The Vatican press office stated: "Prior to the recent appointment of His Excellency Msgr Juan de la Cruz Barros Madrid as bishop of Osorno, Chile, the Congregation for Bishops carefully examined the prelate's candidature and did not find objective reasons to preclude the appointment."

Bishop Barros's installation Mass last month was cut short after protests at the cathedral in Osorno.

Chilean clergy sexual abuse survivors accuse Bishop Barros of covering up abuse by Fr Fernando Karadima when Bishop Barros was a priest.

Fr Karadima, a once-renowned spiritual leader, was found guilty by the Vatican in 2011 of sexually abusing minors.

He was ordered to retire to a life of penitence and prayer.

Chilean criminal charges against Fr Karadima were dropped because of technicalities, including the expiry of the statute of limitations time period since the crimes.

Survivors say that as a priest, Bishop Barros not only worked to cover up Fr Karadima's crimes, but witnessed some of them as they happened.

Bishop Barros, who previously served as the head of Chile's diocese for the military, has denied the claims.

He said he "never had knowledge or imagined the serious abuses that this priest [Karadima] committed with his victim".

Five members of the Pontificial Commission for the Protection of Minors have expressed "concern and incredulity" at Bishop Barros's appointment.

Commission member and abuse survivor Marie Collins from Ireland said: "The voice of the survivors is being ignored."

She added that " . . . the safety of children in this diocese is being left in the hands of a bishop about whom there are grave concerns for his commitment to child protection".

Another commission member and abuse survivor, Peter Saunders, has said he might have to quit the commission unless Pope Francis withdraws the Barros appointment.

Both Pope Francis and commission head Cardinal Sean O'Malley have previously pledged that gaps around bishops' accountability on abuse cover ups will be filled.

Sources:

• The Tablet
• National Catholic Reporter
• Crux
• BBC
• Image: Catholic News Agency

An estimated 4000 protesters tried to block Bishop Juan Barros Madrid from entering the cathedral in Osorno on March 21.

Inside the cathedral, there were clashes between the bishop's opponents, carrying black balloons, and supporters, carrying white ones.

While Bishop Barros was celebrating the Mass, many kept screaming "Paedophile!" and "Get out!".

The celebration had to be cut short, skipping the homily, Communion, and other parts of the liturgy.

Bishop Barros was escorted out of a side-door under police guard.

Three people were arrested for disorderly conduct.

Weeks of protests, candlelight vigils and letters to Pope Francis were not enough to persuade him to rescind his decision in January to appoint Bishop Barros.

Bishop Barros was a close associate of the Fr Fernando Karadima, a Santiago priest whom the Vatican found guilty of sexual abuse in 2011.

The abuse took place in the 1980s and 1990s.

Fr Karadima was ordered to retire to a "life of prayer and penitence".

Three of Fr Karadima's victims have accused four Chilean prelates, including Bishop Barros, of covering up for Fr Karadima and of being present while he abused them.

One victim accused Bishop Barros of threatening seminarians if they spoke out.

Another accusation charges that Bishop Barros, while serving as secretary to a cardinal, destroyed letters addressed to him reporting the abuses.

Bishop Barros has denied any knowledge of the abuses.

One victim, Juan Carlos Cruz, said the Pope's decision to appoint Bishop Barros was a slap in the face.

To date, the Vatican has made no statement in response to the criticism of his appointment.

Chilean Archbishop Fernando Chomalí discussed the Barros appointment and the subsequent reaction with the Pope in Rome on March 6.

The archbishop said the Pope was very well informed about the situation and had told him he found no reason to reverse his decision.

Sources

• Crux
• New York Times
• Image: Sydney Morning Herald