Vatican archives reveal pope Pius XII's failed bid to punish priest

Documents from the Vatican Archives, published on Sunday by the newspaper "Corriere della Sera," show that Pope Pius XII wanted to punish the priest Marcial Maciel Degollado, accused of pedophilia. However, it was Benedict XVI, half a century later, in 2006, at the beginning of his pontificate, who administered the first penalties to the Mexican priest.

Marcial Maciel Degollado died in the United States in 2008. He never stood trial, and the church penalty imposed on him was merely symbolic—he was to live in isolation.

For years, he enjoyed the protection of the Vatican.

The abuse perpetrated by the Mexican priest over decades is considered the largest pedophilia scandal in the Catholic Church. For many years, Degollado molested hundreds of underage boys, women, and even his children. He had wives and led a triple life—it was noted.

One of the disclosed documents dates back to 1956. A representative of the then Congregation for the Clergy wrote that if Maciel reported to them, he would be ordered to undergo treatment and break all contact with his seminarians until the next decision was made.

If not, add the document's author, Father Giovanni Battista Scapinelli, and the clergyman should be informed: either he goes for treatment or will be suspended.

The Italian newspaper explains that this regulation arose from Pius XII's initiative. It speaks of "serious reasons" for such a decision regarding the founder of the Legionaries of Christ but does not provide further details.

However, already in the 1950s, when the order had been operating for several years, its founder was considered in the Vatican as a person who needed treatment—it was noted.

This document and 211 others were archived digitally and written by Maciel's victims. They were sent from 1944 to 2002. They are found in a file titled "The Will Not to Know: What Was Known About Maciel in the Vatican Archives."

Then, according to the publication, the word "suspension" was deleted from the mentioned document, and Father Scapinelli reported a meeting with Maciel and his "protector," as the newspaper points out, Cardinal Giuseppe Pizzardo, after which the recommendations from the original document disappeared.

Another document deems Maciel's health condition "satisfactory." It includes a medical certificate.

The congregation's founder declared that he was a victim of "slanderous accusations." Further actions taken against him by Pius XII's will were interrupted by his death in 1958.

For the next 50 years, Maciel continued his activities and criminal conduct without anyone stopping him, having the support of the church hierarchy, as he recruited many seminarians and considered himself a victim of persecution by communists—according to the publication in "Corriere."