The French church has formally requested that prosecutors open an investigation into Abbé Pierre, a once-revered priest and humanitarian icon who died in 2007, following new revelations of sexual violence.

PARIS (Reuters) - France's Catholic Church called on prosecutors on Friday to open a probe into sexual assault accusations against the late French priest Abbe Pierre, who was a lifelong campaigner for the poor and homeless, and potential cover-ups of such abuse.

French bishops request criminal investigation into abuse allegations against Emmaus founder Abbé Pierre following nine new testimonies against the late priest.

Born Henri Groues in 1912, Abbe Pierre was a French Catholic priest renowned for his dedication to aiding the poor and homeless. In 1949, he founded the Emmaus movement, an intern

The head of France's Catholic bishops has called for a judicial investigation into Abbé Pierre following fresh allegations of sexual abuse against the priest and founder of the Emmaüs charity, who died in 2007.