A TEEN has been arrested for allegedly torturing and killing a suspected paedo Catholic priest by ramming a crucifix down his throat.

The suspect, 19, was allegedly abused by Roger Matassoli, 91, as was his father before him in Agnetz, France.

2 Roger Matassoli, who is suspected of sexually abusing dozens of youngsters, was allegedly murdered by one of his victims in northern France Credit: Central European News

The teen has been arrested and remanded in custody on charges of aggravated murder, acts of torture, and for resisting arrest.

He is suspected of having murdered the alleged sex offender on November 4 by torturing him before asphyxiating him with a crucifix.

He allegedly rammed the cross down the suspected paedo's throat, according to local media,

Alexandre was first arrested on the day of the murder while driving the victim's car but he was taken to hospital on psychiatric grounds.

He was formally charged yesterday, the prosecution in the town of Senlis has announced.

KILLED WITH A CROSS

Catholic priest Roger Matassoli was found dead with a crucifix rammed down his throat and signs of torture on his corpse after being accused of sexually abusing at least four boys over four decades – between 1960 and 2000.

But he is alleged to have abused dozens of young victims.

The suspect was employed by the victim as a housekeeper while his father was allegedly abused by the priest as a child as well.

The dad reportedly said his own father - the alleged murderer's grandfather - had killed himself upon learning of the abuse.

Sexual abuse within the Catholic church For years the Catholic Church has been rocked by child sex abuse allegations on an almost biblical scale. Accusations against priests have been levelled across the world with the Vatican saying at least 3,400 credible cases were referred to it between 2004 and 2014. Years and billions of dollars later the full scale of the abuse around the world is not yet known and the full extent may never be revealed. Along with the allegations of abuse, cover-ups are also said to have been commonplace amongst the clergy. But some countries have gone to extraordinary lengths to uncover the crimes committed by men of the cloth. Systemaic abuse has been uncovered in western Europe along with the US, Canada and Australia. Sickening allegations have surfaced in New Zealand, the Philippines, India, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico. Following his election in 2013 Pope Francis has called for action on sex abuse in the Church. Under his papacy, a Vatican committee has been set up to fight sexual abuse and help the victims. Vatican Radio reported the Pope asked for forgiveness for the "evil" damage to children caused by sexual abusers in the clergy and said "sanctions" would be imposed. Vatican officials submitted publicly to questioning for the first time in January 2013, before a UN panel in Geneva, but refused to supply data on abuse cases. Benedict XVI, Francis’s predecessor was accused of suppressing investigations into paedophile priests, a charge he strenuously denied. In the wake of a raft of new cases in 2010, the Vatican issued new rules saying bishops should report suspected cases of abuse to local police, if required to do so by law.

He also said the alleged abuse had led his own son to attempt suicide, it has been reported.

Stephane said: "This man has shattered a whole family."

Police believe that the murder was an act of revenge, according to local media.

The teen suspect has reportedly told cops he cannot remember committing the gruesome murder.

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After the priest's death, Beauvais bishop Jacques Benoit-Gonnin was quoted as saying that Roger Matassoli had been removed from his duties in 2009 after abuse allegations emerged.

It also emerged that the church allegedly kept Matassoli on the payroll until 2018, it has been reported.

The priest was allowed to carry on working due to "ecclesiastical errors" and due to a succession of bishops putting off dealing with the issue, according to reports.