Cardinals face litmus test on abuse ahead of conclave

ROME – As the world’s most exclusive club prepares to elect the new pope, they face an immediate test of just how seriously they will take the issue of clerical sexual abuse in the case of a Peruvian cardinal who is participating pre-conclave meetings despite allegations against him.

Peruvian Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, 81, is not eligible to vote in a conclave due to his age, but in 2019 was subject to restrictions on his ministry imposed by Pope Francis over allegations lodged a year...