Switzerland

Charles Morerod, the Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, was rushed to hospital on Wednesday. He underwent surgery, his diocese said on Thursday, without wishing to comment further for the time being.

"We wish him a full and speedy recovery," the diocese said in a brief statement.

Morerod's emergency hospitalisation came a day after the publication of a study by the University of Zurich into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Switzerland. The bishop had spoken to the media on Wednesday, describing the study as "shocking".

Morerod was accused in last week's edition of the Sonntagsblick newspaper of having failed to intervene after reports of abuse. The native of Fribourg pointed out that he could not comment on these accusations because the "facts have been submitted to the competent bodies", that is, state justice authorities and the Church itself. He added that he did not wish to interfere in the work of these investigations, but was awaiting their results "with serenity".