Pope apologises to victims of sex abuse by priests abuse for ‘sins and grave crimes’
Francis criticises 'a complicity that cannot be explained' on the part of church leaders
Pope Francis slammed the "complicity" of Catholic Church leaders in covering up sexual abuse yesterday, after his first meeting with victims of paedophile priests.
The pope told the six he was sorry for "the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you".
"So much time hidden, camouflaged, with a complicity that cannot be explained. I know that these wounds are a source of deep and often unrelenting emotional and spiritual pain, and even despair. Some have even had to deal with the terrible tragedy of the death of a loved one by suicide," he added.
"The deaths of these so beloved children of God weigh upon the heart and my conscience and that of the whole church," the 77-year-old said.
"I beg your forgiveness, too, for the sins of omission on the part of Church leaders who did not respond adequately [to sex abuse reports]."
Six victims from Britain, Germany and Ireland met the pontiff at his private residence near Saint Peter's Basilica. The private meeting had been hotly awaited by victim support groups who have criticised the Argentinian for not acting earlier.