Vatican City.- Leo XIV assured that the abuses committed within the Church
“cannot be put in a drawer”, but must be addressed “with true justice towards both the victims and the accused”, in his audience to the new bishops, the Vatican reported this Friday.
“The Pope urged everyone to promptly address issues related to inappropriate clergy behavior: ‘They cannot be set aside; they must be addressed with mercy and true justice, both towards the victims and towards the accused,'” the Holy See assured in a statement, the day after the meeting with the bishops.
The American and Peruvian pontiff received this Thursday the 192 bishops from all over the world who are participating these days in various training courses in the Vatican, with whom he joked about his election as pope and whom he invited to “rediscover the passion and courage” of their work during his speech.
In the note released today by the Vatican, it is explained that after the speech, “the Pope continued to review the challenges and problems they face when beginning a new ministry” and in that context he referred to the abuses.
It is also mentioned that Leo IV “in response to the bishops’ questions, spoke of the need to be prudent in the use of social networks, where there is a risk that ‘everyone feels entitled to say what they want, even false things’, and added: ‘There are times when reaching the truth is painful’, but necessary.”
You may be interested in: Priest Alejandro Anselmo Peña Sánchez suspended after sexual abuse complaint
“In this sense, it is advisable to
seek the help of communication professionals, people with training in this field, summarizing their reflection on the matter as follows: «Calm, common sense and the help of a professional»”, it is indicated in the statement.
The new
192 bishops from the five continents are participating in September in the training courses promoted by the Dicastery for Evangelization and by the Dicastery for Bishops.
