Pope Francis complains about unfounded accusations against John Paul II

A documentary recently caused an uproar in Poland, as the film accuses the late pope of knowing about allegations of abuse by priests in the 1960s and 1970s

On Sunday, Francis said the former pope, who was born Karol Wojtyla in Poland, is ‘these days the object of insulting and unfounded insinuations’

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The late Pope John Paul II in France in 1980. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:38am, 17 Apr 2023Updated: 8:17am, 17 Apr 2023

Pope Francis has come to the defence of the late pope John Paul II who was accused in a recent documentary film of ignoring allegations of abuse by priests and protecting them by transferring them.

Francis said the former pope, who was born Karol Wojtyla in Poland, is “these days the object of insulting and unfounded insinuations”.

The Catholic Church leader defended the late pope on Sunday before the faithful in St Peter’s Square in Rome. Francis did not say, however, to which accusations he was referring.

In March, a documentary film caused an uproar in Poland, as the film accuses Wojtyla of knowing about allegations of priest abuse in the 1960s and 1970s, when he was archbishop of Krakow. The film says Wojtyla protected perpetrators by transferring them.

Italian and Vatican media, however, related Pope Francis’ statement to remarks made by the brother of Emanuela Orlandi, who disappeared almost 40 years ago.

The Papal States judiciary has been investigating the case since January. Prosecutors want to pursue suspicions and leads that Orlandi, the daughter of a Curia employee and a Vatican citizen, was abducted or murdered.