The Vatican dismisses accusations against Father Javier Velásquez Angulo; the Chilean priest will return to pastoral duties after cleared investigation.
Newsroom (04/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a development that has drawn national attention in Chile, the Archdiocese of Puerto Montt announced that the Vatican has dismissed the canonical case involving Father Javier Velásquez Angulo, who had been accused of violating the rights of minors. Following the decision, the priest is set to return to his pastoral duties.
According to a statement dated January 29, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith—the Vatican office responsible for handling such matters—resolved to archive the accusation. The decision was based on the finding that “the reported facts do not constitute a canonical crime.” Consequently, all precautionary measures previously imposed on the priest have been lifted, allowing him to resume his ministerial responsibilities within the church.
The allegations against Father Velásquez Angulo first surfaced in August 2025, when four students from San Miguel School, where he was employed as a teacher, reported to the school psychologist that they had “felt violated in the area of sexual modesty by a teacher in an educational context,” according to statements given at the time by prosecutor Marcelo Maldonado to El Mercurio On Line (EMOL).
In response, the Calbuco Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal investigation to determine whether the reported incidents might represent actionable offenses under Chilean law. Prosecutor Maldonado noted that the office would investigate “whether there are facts constituting a crime, whether they are within the scope of this Prosecutor’s Office’s jurisdiction, and to establish the criminal responsibilities that could be associated with the case.”
Simultaneously, the Archdiocese of Puerto Montt opened its own internal inquiry to assess the credibility of the allegations. As a precautionary measure, Colegio San Miguel suspended Father Velásquez from his teaching duties “for the duration of the legal proceedings,” citing the need to safeguard students and ensure their well-being during the investigation.
Although the canonical process has now concluded with Father Velásquez’s exoneration, the Prosecutor’s Office has not yet issued a final ruling in the civil investigation. It remains unclear whether prosecutors will pursue further action or formally close the case.
For now, the Vatican’s decision clears Father Velásquez Angulo to return to active ministry, bringing an end to the church’s internal proceedings but leaving open questions about the broader legal outcome still pending in Chilean courts.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Prensa
Related Images:
