"I wish to express to the victims my sadness, my pain for the traumas they have suffered and also my shame, our shame" for "the too long inability of the Church".
With these words, pronounced during the Wednesday general audience, Pope Francis commented on the revelations contained in the dossier on cases of pedophilia in the Church of France , which has ascertained at least 216 thousand cases from 1950 to today.
"Let us pray: to you Lord the glory, to us the shame, this is the moment of shame", added the Pontiff.
Bergoglio then called into question prelates and priests: "I encourage the bishops and religious superiors - he continued - to continue to make all efforts so that similar tragedies do not happen again. I express - he also said - to the priests of France the closeness and paternal support of in the face of this hard but healthy test. And I invite French Catholics to assume their responsibilities to ensure that the Church is a safe home for all ", concluded the Pope, whose words were greeted by a long applause from the faithful present.
(Unioneonline / lf)
