Pope Francis has once again gone where no other pope would dare go. While in Philadelphia, he met with five victims of priest sexual abuse, promising to hold pedophile priest accountable.
Pope Francis stated:
I carry in my heart the stories, the suffering and the pain of the minors that have been sexually abused by priests. I’m overwhelmed by the shame that people who were in charge of caring for those young ones raped them and caused them great damages.
Humbly we owe each one of them and their families our gratitude for their immense courage for making the light of Christ shine over the evil of minor sexual abuse.
Pope Francis said sexual abuse can no longer be kept secret, and he promised to zealously protect young people and that “all those responsible [will be] held accountable.” He also said “God weeps” for the victims.
In June, Pope Francis create a new Vatican tribunal to prosecute bishops who failed to protect their flock by covering up for pedophile priests rather than reporting them to police.
For more on this story, click CBS News Pope Francis meets with U.S. clergy sex abuse victims.
