The Latest on a church sex abuse trial in France (all times local):
10:15 a.m.
A French court has found top Catholic official Cardinal Philippe Barbarin guilty for failing to report to justice accusations against a pedophile priest.
FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2019 file photo, French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin waits for the start of his trial at the Lyon courthouse, central France. Pope. A French court on Thursday March 7, 2019 is expected to acquit a cardinal and five other defendants accused of protecting a pedophile priest, but alleged victims say France's most important church sex abuse trial has at least allowed them to bring the affair into the open. (AP PhotoLaurent Cipriani, File)
In a surprise decision Thursday in France's most important church sex abuse trial, the Lyon court handed Barbarin a six-month suspended prison sentence for not reporting the facts in the period between July 2014 and June 2015.
The Rev. Bernard Preynat's alleged victims said Barbarin and other church officials covered up for him for years, but the statute of limitations had expired on some charges and even the victims had expected that the cardinal would be acquitted.
The prosecutor had also argued against convicting, saying there were no grounds to prove legal wrongdoing.
The priest has confessed to abusing Boy Scouts in the 1970s and 80s and will be tried separately.
8:45 a.m.
A French court is expected to acquit a cardinal and five other defendants accused of protecting a pedophile priest at the end of France's most important church sex abuse trial.
The Lyon court will deliver its verdict on Thursday morning.
The Rev. Bernard Preynat's alleged victims said church hierarchy covered up for him for years. But by the time the four-day trial reached court in Lyon last January, the statute of limitations had expired on some charges.
Even the prosecutor argued against convicting Cardinal Philippe Barbarin and other church officials, saying there were no grounds to prove legal wrongdoing.
Barbarin faces up to three years in prison and fines if convicted.
The priest has confessed to abusing Boy Scouts in the 1970s and 80s and will be tried separately.
The leaders of the European Union and five Central Asian countries held their first summit on Friday and declared a new strategic partnership to boost trade and other ties.
The summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan is attended by European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Costa declared that “the European Union is eager to build a mutually beneficial partnership with Central Asia, one that goes beyond expectations.”
Von der Leyen said that the summit is set to “deepen trade ties and expand cooperation in transport, critical raw materials, digital connectivity, water and energy.” She announced a 12 billion-euro ($13.2 billion) Gateway Investment Package to increase cooperation in transport, critical raw materials, clean energy and digital connectivity.
Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said hat during the past seven years trade between Central Asian and EU countries has increased to 54 billion euros ($60 billion), adding that the summit “should become the starting point of a new stage in the development of multi-faceted relations.”
In this photo released by Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office, European Council President Antonio Costa, left, and Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, pose for a photo prior the first summit between the leaders of the EU and the five countries of Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo released by Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, pose for a photo prior the first summit between the leaders of the EU and the five countries of Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office via AP)
This photo released by Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office, offers a view of the first summit between the leaders of the EU and the five countries of Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo released by Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office, from left: Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, European Council President Antonio Costa, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov pose for a photo prior the first summit between the leaders of the EU and the five countries of Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo released by Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, arrives to attend the first summit between the leaders of the EU and the five countries of Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo released by Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, center, European Council President Antonio Costa, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, pose for a photo prior the first summit between the leaders of the EU and the five countries of Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo released by Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, center, European Council President Antonio Costa, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, pose for a photo prior the first summit between the leaders of the EU and the five countries of Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo released by Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen talk to each other prior to the first summit between the leaders of the EU and the five countries of Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo released by Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office, from left: Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, European Council President Antonio Costa, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov pose for a photo prior the first summit between the leaders of the EU and the five countries of Central Asia in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday, April 4, 2025. (Uzbekistan's Presidential Press Office via AP)
