At long last, Cardinal Roger Mahony speaks out. After months of refusing interviews here in the U.S., Cardinal Mahony has broken his silence and granted an interview to an Italian newspaper while in Rome to attend the conclave to elect the next pope.

In an interview published earlier this week, he defends his handling of the sexual abuse scandal that has tainted his legacy. Last month, Mahony was relieved of his public duties after newly released documents showed he may have protected priests charged with sexual abuse from the law.

Here with an update on what Mahony is saying is Barbie Latza Nadeau, Rome correspondent for the Daily Beast.