Pope Francis has expelled from the priesthood a Chilean who gained notoriety for sexually abusing young men in his parish.
The Vatican said that Fernando Karadima was dismissed from the clerical state by the Pope, who "made this exceptional decision in conscience and for the good of the Church."
Citing canon law, the Vatican said the Pope "exercised his 'supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power in the Church' aware of his service to the people of God as successor of St Peter."
Pope Francis signed the decree on Thursday and Karadima was informed of the decision the next day, the statement said.
