Vatican knew of case a year earlier than reported.
Gregorio Borgia / AP Photo
A man who was abused as a child at the hands of a priest in Wisconsin is suing the pope and other top Vatican officials, saying they conspired to cover up his abuser’s crimes. The lawsuit, which identifies the man as “John Doe 16,” names Pope Benedict XVI, former Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, and a third Vatican official as defendants. The lawsuit alleges that all three men knew about the abuse and conspired to keep it secret. John Doe 16 is seeking a jury trial, plus confidential Vatican documents and monetary damages. The priest who abused him died in 1998.
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