Pope Francis broadened his warnings over the church’s sex abuse scandals Monday, saying that clergy and others who helped cover up wrongdoing are also guilty in the eyes of the Vatican.
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But unlike previous papal meetings with sexual abuse survivors, this one included victims who had been abused by family members and teachers, as well as those who had suffered at the hands of priests. It is very disturbing to know that in some cases bishops even were abusers.
On Sunday, the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics spent about 30 minutes with three women and two men who were sexually abused by clergy members.
According to the Vatican, in the private half-hour meeting with the victims, Francis said, “I deeply regret that some bishops failed in their responsibility to protect children. I am profoundly sorry”, Pope Francis said.
Questioned about peace talks in Colombia, the pope said he was pleased when he heard that a tentative agreement had been reached last week between the government and the rebel group known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC. In a particular way I thank Archbishop Chaput and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the civil authorities, the organizers, and all the many volunteers and benefactors who assisted in ways large and small.
The meeting with survivors took place just before a gathering of bishops taking part in the World Meeting of Families. But they are also cute, which is probably why the Pope “giggled” instead of lecturing Baby Pope on how his outfit is the “dung of the devil.” He apologized to them that often their accusations weren’t taken seriously, and promised to hold bishops accountable. “I think what Francis is doing, he’s trying to make people see that the church is really for everyone”, said pilgrim Sandy Fuga, a retired Catholic teacher who sat on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.
Of the pope, she said: “He’s brought so much joy and holy spirit into the United States”.
All people “have something we need to be cleansed of, or purified from”, he said – momentarily breaking from the script to add: “I am first among them”.
The pope said that when he leaves a country after a visit, “I see the faces of so many people”. “The atmosphere in Philadelphia was so exciting”, one observer tells Us.
Pope Francis stopped the precession several times to kiss the heads of babies brought to him from the crowd by Secret Service personnel.
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“Finally a Catholic official is admitting that “princes of the church” covered up heinous crimes”, SNAP President Barbara Blaine said in a statement.
