Pope Francis said Thursday that the
Catholic Church must never again fail to listen to the victims
of child sexual during an audience of the Pontifical Commission
for the Protection of Minors.
"Closeness to victims is not an abstract concept but a very
concrete reality, comprised of listening, intervening,
preventing, and assisting," the pope said.
"These brothers and sisters of ours must be welcomed and
listened to, since neglecting to do so can greatly aggravate
their suffering."
Francis has taken several steps during his 11-year pontificate
to crack down on sex abuse within the Church and related
cover-ups, following an array of scandals in many parts of the
world, although victims' groups say more needs to be done.
On Thursday he said the Church's commitment to combatting abuse
"must not wane".
He said the commission's work seeks to make the Church become,
"always and everywhere, a place where everyone can feel at home
and each person is treated as sacred".
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