Pope Francis confirms drive against sexual abuse

April 05, 2013

Pope Francis underlined the importance of a drive to eliminate sexual abuse during an April 5 audience with Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).

After his meeting with the Pontiff, Archbishop Müller's congregation released a statement saying that the Pope had "recommended that the Congregation, continuing along the lines set by Benedict XVI, act decisively with regard to cases of sexual abuse, first of all by promoting measures for the protection of minors, as well as in offering assistance to those who have suffered abuse, carrying out due proceedings against the guilty, and in the commitment of bishops' conferences to formulate and implement the necessary directives in this area that is so important for the Church's witness and credibility."

Pope Francis also said that he was praying for the victims of abuse.

The April 5 statement from the CDF did not mention any other matters that were discussed during the Pope's audience with the prefect. (For example, the statement did not allude to the discussions with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, which are proceeding under the aegis of the CDF.) Thus the statement called special attention to the Vatican's work against sexual abuse.

Pope Francis has been meeting this week with the heads of Vatican offices. The statement from the CDF was the first to report on the content of the discussions.

 

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Further information:

• Francis: Act Decisively against Sexual Abuse (VIS)