Jean-Michel di Falco

Jean-Michel di Falco is a former bishop of Gap, France. He is currently newsworthy due to a recent civil court ruling against him. The Paris Court of Appeal has ordered di Falco to pay nearly €200,000 in damages to Pierre-Jean Pagès, who accused di Falco of sexual abuse committed in the 1970s when di Falco was a priest and school director. While the alleged crimes are past the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution, the civil suit sought compensation for the harm caused. This ruling has brought renewed attention to the issue of historical sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and its responsibility to provide reparations to victims. The French Church is also re-evaluating its existing compensation mechanism for victims of abuse, which is set to expire soon, adding to the significance of this case.