by Jolene Toves

Guam - Archbishop Anthony Apuron met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. According to the Vatican Information Service, the archbishop had an audience with the Pope on Friday, November 21.

Archdiocese of Agana spokesperson Father Adrian Cristobal told KUAMn News, "I don't know what the details are of the meeting the archbishop is still off island perhaps when he gets back we will get more details overall I cans say is that the archbishop is very happy with the meeting it was a very positive meeting the archbishop was very impressed with the humility of the pope."

According to Father Adrian, Archbishop Apuron was not summoned by the pope. He added that Pope Francis was supportive and encouraging to Apuron. Father Adrian says he expects Archbishop Apuron to return to Guam in early December.

Jungle Watch blogger Tim Rohr finds it peculiar that not only was Archbishop Anthony Apuron given an audience with the but that the pope also met with two others that day and share what he believes to be the reason for the meeting.. "There is a news story in Swiss press published originally in French then German of Archbishop Apuron meeting with Pope Francis over the essentially the hiding or harboring of an accused pedophile priest well we know what that story is because that happened last July with Father John Wadeson," he said.

The two others that met with the pope are Cardinal Muller the disciplinary arm of the Vatican, and Archbishop Convolo who was on Guam last December to certify the Redemptoris Mater Seminary.

In July the archbishop removed Father John Wadeson from active ministry in the Archdiocese of Agana. His removal followed the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) exposing his past and the fact that Father Wadeson was twice accused of child molestation in California. Father Wadeson was banned from the Los Angeles Archdiocese. The day after he was removed, Father Wadeson left Guam.

The allegations against Father Wadeson have not as of yet resulted in any convictions.