Pope replaces bishop as footage leaks of sex act during video call with another man
"The Holy Father has accepted the resignation."
Words: Jamie Tabberer; Images: Pexels (left) and Wiki
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a Bishop in Brazil days after a clip of him reportedly masturbating while on a video call with another man leaked online.
A man of Ferreira de Silva’s likeness is seen wearing a striped top in the 60-second video, which has circulated on social media.
His resignation was confirmed by The Vatican yesterday (18 August 2021).
The 60-year-old was the bishop of the Diocese of São José do Rio Preto in São Paulo, Brazil, and will be replaced by Archbishop Moacir Silva,
“The Holy Father has accepted the resignation”
A statement from The Vatican reads: “The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, presented by Bishop Tomé Ferreira da Silva, and has appointed Archbishop Moacir Silva, metropolitan of Ribeirão Preto, as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the diocese of São José do Rio Preto.”
As per the Washington Post, Ferreira de Silva reportedly confirmed to local paper Diario de Regiao that it was him in the video, but provided no further detail.
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Bishops are usually requested to submit their resignation to the Pope at the age of 75.
The Pope made headlines last year when he said in documentary Francisco: “Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable because of it.”
He added: “What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered. I stood up for that.”