Pope Francis kicked off his visit to Chile by asking forgiveness for the sexual abuse of children by priests, a scandal that has damaged the credibility of the Church in the predominantly Catholic country.
"I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the Church," Francis told a gathering of Chile’s leaders at the presidential palace in Santiago on Tuesday. "I am one with my brother bishops, for it is right to ask forgiveness and to make every effort to support the victims, even as we commit ourselves to ensuring that such things do not happen." His remarks were met with applause.
The country has been rocked by a crisis involving Fr Fernando Karadima, a charismatic priest and dominant character in Chile’s ecclesiastical scene, who was found guilty of sexually abusing children for decades. His superiors are accused of covering up to his crimes.
One of those accused of turning a blind eye is the Bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros, to whom Karadima was a friend and mentor. There was uproar when Francis appointed Bishop Barros to Osorno with hundreds of protestors turning up at the cathedral to express their dismay at Barros’ ordination. The Pope, however, was later filmed telling a group of Chileans that those protesting were "suffering because of stupidity" and being led by "leftists".
The Pope arrived this three-day visit to Chile on Monday evening and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds when he stepped off the papal plane and on his arrival at the residence of the apostolic nunciature, the home of the papal ambassador and where Francis is staying. The Pope's Chile trip will be followed by three days in Peru in what is his sixth trip to Latin America.
Despite the warm welcome in Santiago, the abuse scandal has left many Chilean Catholics disillusioned seen with polls showing lukewarm enthusiasm for the visit. There is talk that the Pope will meet with abuse victims during his trip and while in Peru the scandal is likely to rear its head given that the Vatican recently announced the takeover of a prominent lay Catholic society, whose founder is accused of abuse.
The major thrust of Francis’ speech, however, was focused on building social justice, with the Pope calling for resistance against "powerful economic interests" that seek to "prevail over natural ecosystems" and the "common good of our peoples".
He called on the country’s leader to listen to all groups in society including the often forgotten "native peoples" who, the Pope stressed, "need to be protected".
Tomorrow, Francis is travelling to the south of the country to meet and have lunch with a group of the indigenous Mapuche people.
(Pic: Pope Francis meets with Chile's President Michelle Bachelet at La Moneda Presidential Palace in Santiago on January 16, 2018. Pope Francis is visiting Chile from January 15 to 18, before heading to Peru from January 18 to 21. Credit: ABACAPRESS.COM/PA)
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