PARIS (AP) — France's prime minister appealed on Tuesday to a Catholic cardinal at the center of abuse cover-up allegations to take action, but stopped short of calling for his resignation.

Manuel Valls said Tuesday that Cardinal Philippe Barbarin should "take responsibility and talk and act." But Barbarin told a news conference he never concealed cases of child abuse reported to him.

Barbarin, Lyon's cardinal since 2003, said he may have made mistakes, but stressed "I have never, never, never covered up any act of pedophilia."

Barbarin is among six church officials targeted in a preliminary judicial investigation that grew out of allegations that a priest had molested boy scouts in the 1980s. Barbarin wasn't a cardinal at the time and says he was convinced the priest reformed in 2007-2008 when they met.

The priest, Bernard Preynat, was charged Jan. 27 with sexual aggression and rape of a minor by a person in authority.

"We have opened a Pandora's box and today that gives an elan to the victims who are revealing themselves," said Francois Devaux, head of an association that revealed the alleged abuse by Preynat.

The French prime minister was asked about Barbarin in an interview on RMC radio, and said that, while he cannot take the place of judicial authorities or church officials, "the only message I can pass on ... is to take his responsibility.

"He must take his responsibility and talk and act."

The statement was unusual because France has a strict separation of church and state, and Valls is extremely vocal in defending it.

In another unusual development, a closed gathering of French bishops in Lourdes opened its doors to reporters for a news conference notably featuring Barbarin.

Barbarin said that in his 17 years as bishop, he has twice confronted allegations of pedophilia among priests and contended that he acted promptly.

"The victims know that I think of them first," he said.