Sexual abuse scandals have marred the Vatican and seeking justice for the victims has been a long and arduous process. Now, Pope Francis (né Jorge Mario Bergoglio) has gone on record to visit six victims -- three men and three women from Britain, Ireland and Germany -- and apologize to them. According to Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the pontiff met with each victim privately for 30 minutes at his private residence at Casa Santa Marca.
"I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part of Church leaders who did not respond adequately to reports of abuse made by family members, as well as by abuse victims themselves," said the Argentine pope in a private Mass with six victims of church sexual abuse, according to a text of the statement provided by the Vatican. "This led to even greater suffering on the part of those who were abused and it endangered other minors who were at risk."
In his homily, the Argentine pope called for "zero tolerance" of sexual abuse by clerics and added that "all bishops must carry out their pastoral ministry with the utmost care in order to help foster the protection of minors, and they will be held accountable."
That said, not everyone is impressed with Pope Francis' efforts. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a victims advisory group, aired their view on the event, stating that "no child on earth is safer today because of this meeting."
"With or without church officials, abuse victims can heal themselves," said SNAP President Barbara Blaine in a statement. "But only with church officials' help can children protect themselves from child molesting clerics. That's where the Pope must focus. And that's where he's refusing to act."
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
