Pope Orders ‘Thorough Study’ of Vatican Documents in Abuse Case

Pope Francis loses his skull cap during the Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican, on Sept. 26, 2018. Tony Gentile/Reuters

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis has ordered a “thorough study” of all documents in Holy See offices concerning former U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the Vatican said in its first response to accusations that have shaken the Catholic Church.

In a statement on on Oct. 6, the Vatican appeared to be committing itself to examine the paper trail on the McCarrick case.