Pope Francis met with victims of child-molesting priests this Sunday on the final day of his U.S. visit and, accordimg to an AP report, promised to hold accountable those responsible for the scandal, delivering a powerful warning to American bishops accused of “covering up for pedophiles instead of reporting them to police.” The pontiff disclosed the gesture of reconciliation at the start of a meeting with U.S. bishops gathered in Philadelphia for a big rally on Catholic families.
Francis praised the victims as “true heralds of mercy” who deserve the church’s gratitude and said sex abuse in the church can no longer be kept a secret. He promised to “zealously” protect young people and see that “all those responsible are held accountable.”
Francis has agreed to create a new Vatican tribunal to prosecute bishops who failed to protect their flock by covering up for pedophile priests. Victims’ advisory groups, according to the report, had complained earlier in the week that Francis had neglected to address their plight when he congratulated bishops for their “courageous” and generous response to the scandal.
Later Sunday, Francis was scheduled to visit a prison and celebrate a final Mass on U.S. soil on Philadelphia’s grandest boulevard, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
See the full report here: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pope-meets-with-sex-abuse-victims-promises-accountability/ar-AAeQq0T?li=AAa0dzB&ocid=iehp