Cardinal Cañizares says that the Church does “more than anyone” in the face of child abuse, “something that the Government does not do”

This was stated by Cañizares this Monday, at a press conference held after the act where he made public his resignation from the position and the name of his successor was known, when asked if the Spanish Church had done enough to clarify the accusations of pederasty.

“More than anyone. The Spanish Church is an example of what must be done to avoid abuses, something that the Government has not done, that the way it is doing it will not prevent them”, he indicated to insist that the Church “has taken the reins and has acted on all cases of abuse.

Balance “positive” in the archbishopric

When asked to take stock of his eight years at the head of the archdiocese, Cañizares clarified that he had not finished yet but that it was “positive” because “God had done it.”

“I have helped God what I have known and been able to do, very important things have been done,” he claimed. After explaining that he resigned two years ago “out of obligation”, since the bishops must do so when they turn 75, he assured that when he did so “he was not tired”.

From now on, he has said, his role will be to “pray and dream. What I have done so far, but with more intensity in solitude, in the Moncada seminary and for some time in the Encarnación convent in Ávila”.

He has assured that his mandate “has not been difficult” and he has felt “very loved” in Valencia, and “at all times” backed by Pope Francis, with whom he will speak “when appropriate” and of whom, he has said, always It has felt “very close”.

“I have always told the truth and nothing but the truth, above all in the service of the truth,” he stressed.

Asked about speculation that Pope Francis could resign, Cañizares said: “The pope will do what he has to do, following the will of God. He is doing very well and showing signs of the Pontificate that we need at this time of renewal”.