No room for abuse in Church says pope

'No cover-ups, abusers must be judged'

By: ansa.it

Sep 29 2024
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No room for abuse in Church sa

Pope Francis said Sunday said there is no room for abuse and for cover-ups in the Church during a Mass celebrated in Brussels that wrapped up his three-day visit to Belgium, a country affected by past sex abuse cases.
    During his sermon, Francis recalled the words of sexual abuse victims he met during his visit to Belgium.
    "I listened to the suffering of those who were abused and I repeat it here: in the Church there is room for everybody, everybody, everybody" but "there is no room for abuse, for the cover-up of abuses.
    "I ask bishops: don't cover abuse", said the pope, who was welcomed by a long applause at the stadium during the open-air mass.
    "Evil must not be hidden, it must be uncovered with courage", noted the pontiff.
    He said those who commit abuse "must be judged" whether they are "lay people, priests or bishops".