The Vatican has announced that Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, New York, will lead an apostolic visitation of the Diocese of Buffalo.
The visitation, a canonical inspection and fact-finding mission, was ordered by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, the Vatican department responsible for overseeing the personal conduct of bishops.
A notice issued by the apostolic nunciature in Washington confirmed Thursday that the visitation was “non-judicial and non-administrative,” meaning that no formal charges are currently being considered against the scandal-plagued Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo.
The nunciature did confirm that the visitation had been ordered under the provisions of Vos Estis Lux Mundi (You Are the Light of the World), the policy document on sexual abuse and diocesan administration issued May 7 by Pope Francis, which came into effect June 1.
Bishop DiMarzio will be assisted by Father Steven Aguggia, the judicial vicar of the Brooklyn Diocese, who will act as secretary of the visitation. The nunciature did not confirm when the visitation would formally begin, or how long it would continue before transmitting its findings to the Congregation for Bishops in Rome.
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