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Pope to Chileans: 'We did not react in time' on sex abuse
Pope Francis smiles as he leaves at the end of his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at Vatican on May 30, 2018. PHOTO | TIZIANA FABI | AFP
What you need to know:
Francis has apologised to the victims, three of whom he met with recently.
Several members of the Chilean church hierarchy are accused of ignoring and covering up child abuse by pedophile priest Fernando Karadima during the 1980s and 1990s.
On May 18, 34 Chilean bishops announced their resignation over the scandal, after Francis summoned them.
SANTIAGO,
Pope Francis voiced "shame" that the Catholic church failed "to listen and react in time" to allegations of sexual abuse by Chilean clergy, in a letter to Chileans released Thursday.
Several members of the Chilean church hierarchy are accused by victims of ignoring and covering up child abuse by pedophile priest Fernando Karadima during the 1980s and 1990s.
Francis earlier this month promised "changes" to the Chilean church to "restore justice" after reading the conclusions of an investigation into the abuse.
"I must say with shame that we did not listen and react in time" over the allegations, the pope said in the letter, released by Chile's Episcopal Conference at a news conference.
TALK TO VICTIMS
The Argentine pope also announced a new trip soon to Chile by Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Father Jordi Bertomeu, who visited Santiago in February to talk to the victims.
Francis has apologised to the victims, three of whom he met with recently.
On Friday and Sunday, he is to receive seven more victims of Karadima, who was suspended for life by the Vatican.
On May 18, 34 Chilean bishops announced their resignation over the scandal, after Francis summoned them.
SEXUAL ABUSE
Since 2000, about 80 Roman Catholic priests have been reported to authorities in Chile for alleged sexual abuse.
Some analysts note that Chile's long tradition of having the church not subject to civilian law lent itself to impunity and cover-ups.
