The French church has formally requested that prosecutors open an investigation into Abbé Pierre, a once-revered priest and humanitarian icon who died in 2007, following new revelations of sexual violence.

PARIS (Reuters) - France's Catholic Church called on prosecutors on Friday to open a probe into sexual assault accusations against the late French priest Abbe Pierre, who was a lifelong campaigner for the poor and homeless, and potential cover-ups of such abuse.

The president of the French bishops’ conference appealed to the Paris prosecutor to open an official inquiry into the sexual abuse allegations against the

French bishops request criminal investigation into abuse allegations against Emmaus founder Abbé Pierre following nine new testimonies against the late priest.

The head of France's Catholic bishops has called for a judicial investigation into Abbé Pierre following fresh allegations of sexual abuse against the priest and founder of the Emmaüs charity, who died in 2007.

The French Bishops' Conference (CEF) announced January 17, that its president, Archbishop Eric de Moulins-Beaufort of Reims, has asked the Ministry of Justice to open an investigation following revelations of new victims of the once-renowned Capuchin priest.

Born Henri Groues in 1912, Abbe Pierre was a French Catholic priest renowned for his dedication to aiding the poor and homeless. In 1949, he founded the Emmaus movement, an intern