FORGIVENESS

Pope: ‘Grave Errors’ Were Made in Chilean Sex-Abuse Scandal

Pope Francis defended a bishop who has allegedly witnessed and ignored abuse.

Pope Francis admitted he made “grave errors” in his handling of the Chilean sex-abuse scandal, according to a letter obtained by the Associated Press. The pope invited the abuse victims that “he had discredited to Rome to beg their forgiveness,” and called for “an emergency meeting” with Chilean bishops at the Vatican in coming weeks to “discuss the scandal.” Francis claimed that he lacked “true and balanced information” when he defended Bishop Juan Barros, who has been accused of witnessing and ignoring sexual abuse. Francis sent respected sex-abuse investigator Archbishop Charles Scicluna to investigate the claims, but the letter did not outline his findings. The pope did state that the Chilean church must “repair the scandal where possible and re-establish justice.”