Diocesan Bishop Marek Solarczyk explained at the weekend that it was only after the appointment of Krzysztof Dukielski (47) as auxiliary bishop by Pope Leo XIV in mid-July that "the fact of the chaplain's inappropriate behaviour towards a minor in the past" was reported to the church.
He did not provide any further details.
On Wednesday, Bishop Solarczyk had initially only announced that Leo XIV had relieved Dukielski of his duties. It was said that the recently appointed bishop had asked the Pope himself to do so. This raised many questions, to which the local bishop now responded.
Solarczyk wrote at the weekend that he wanted to provide information about the case out of responsibility for the welfare of the parish and out of concern for the injured party.
"In accordance with applicable canon law, the procedure provided for in the norms was initiated immediately after credible information was received."
"Appropriate preventive measures" have been taken against Dukielski. Further decisions in his case would follow.
"I express my sincere condolences to those affected by the clergyman's misconduct," said Radom's bishop. He is praying for them and wants to provide them with pastoral support.
After his ordination to the priesthood in 2003, Dukielski also worked for many years in the Italian diocese of Avezzano.
He returned to his home diocese of Radom in 2013.
From 2014 to 2016, he was deputy director of the national office for World Youth Day.
He has been parish priest in Magnuszew since 2021.
The town is located around 60 kilometres south-east of Warsaw.