In 1962, the Vatican in Rome issued a Papal Instruction binding upon all bishops throughout the world. The Instruction directed that allegations and reports of sexual abuse of children by priests were required to be kept secret and not disclosed to civil authorities such as law enforcement, to co-employees or supervisors of parish priests, or to parishioners generally. The Instruction was binding until 2001.
The instructions required archbishops and bishops to keep subsecreto files also known as confidential files. These files are not to be made public.
Who was in charge?