During a meeting with members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on Friday, the pope called for greater support for victims of clergy sexual abuse in developing countries.
Francis, 86, created this commission in 2014 following the scandal of sexual abuse by Catholic Church clergy against minors.
The pope again criticized the “mismanagement” of Catholic Church leaders regarding what he called the “terrible scourge” of sexual assault.
“Don’t be discouraged if it seems that little has changed for the better. Persevere and carry on”Francis told the newly appointed members of the commission.
“Use your skills and knowledge to help restore a terrible plague in the church, namely by working to help the various churches” around the world, he explained.
In particular, the pope cited the inequalities that exist in Africa, Asia and South America, where victims do not receive the same assistance as in the countries of the northern hemisphere and where training programs for clergy are inadequate.
“It is not normal for the most affluent regions of the world to have well-structured and well-funded prevention programs where victims and their families are respected, and in other parts of the world victims suffer in silence, perhaps rejected or stigmatized if they attempt to attack the that they have undergonehe underlined.
The commission has faced a series of problems since its inception, and in March its most influential member, Hans Zollner, resigned, accusing the commission of structural problems and a lack of transparency.
Francis has sought to strengthen the commission by integrating it into the Vatican department responsible for handling clergy sexual assault cases.
The commission also signed a new agreement in April with the Vatican Dicastery, in charge of evangelization.
The head of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, admitted at the time that communicating the rules and guidelines imposed by the Vatican to churches in other regions was a challenge.
Source: DN
