Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, Archbishop Emeritus of Santiago, Chile, has had a distinguished career in the Church and was a trusted a member of Pope Francis council of advisers but was implicated in the cover up of a sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Church in Chile in 2018.

Errázuriz was born on September 5, 1933, in Santiago, Chile, and ordained a priest of the Schönstatt Fathers on July 16, 1961. He holds a licentiate in theology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

Errázuriz Ossa served as a chaplain to students and professionals of the Schönstatt Movement and later became the Regional Superior in Chile. In 1971, he was called to Germany as a member of his community’s General Council, and in 1974, he was elected Superior General.

On December 22, 1990, Errázuriz Ossa was appointed titular Archbishop of Hólar and Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, receiving episcopal ordination on January 6, 1991. He was named Archbishop-Bishop of Valparaíso on September 24, 1996, and later transferred to the Archdiocese of Santiago on April 24, 1998. Errázuriz Ossa served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Chile until November 25, 2004.

From May 16, 2003, to July 10, 2007, he held the position of President of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM). He also presided over the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops in Aparecida, Brazil, from May 13 to 31, 2007. Errázuriz Ossa became Archbishop Emeritus of Santiago, Chile, on December 15, 2010.

On February 21, 2001, St. John Paul II created and proclaimed Errázuriz Ossa a Cardinal, assigning him the Title of S. Maria della Pace (Our Lady of Peace). He participated in the conclaves of April 2005 and March 2013.

On April 13, 2013, Cardinal Errázuriz Ossa was appointed as a member of the Council of Cardinals established to advise Pope Francis in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for reforming the Roman Curia.

Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa played a significant role in the 2018 sexual abuse crisis in Chile, primarily related to his handling of allegations against Father Fernando Karadima and subsequent cover-up attempts.

In 2018, it emerged that Errázuriz had privately admitted to closing an investigation into Karadima’s alleged abuses, stating that he did so to “protect them,” aware that his actions could be criticized if the accusations became public. As the crisis unfolded, Errázuriz’s actions came under further intense scrutiny.

Errázuriz’s involvement in the crisis led to his departure from Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinal Advisers in 2018. His actions significantly contributed to the broader scandal that rocked the Church in Chile and led to widespread calls for reform and accountability within the Church hierarchy.