Pope Francis has met in private with survivors of sexual abuse by Chilean clergy, a Vatican spokesman said.
The meeting came as Marie Collins, who resigned last year as a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, has posted a blog asking: "What is happening with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM)? Why has it been allowed to fall into abeyance? Why has there been no official statement of explanation? It is now one month since members’ appointments for the first three year term of the PCPM expired - 17h December 2017.
"So far no announcement has been made as to which of the former members will be reappointed for a second term or what new members will be joining. Fr Hans Zollner (a first term member) in a tweet on 13th December said a 'new term' of the Commission 'will start in 2018'. Later the same day in another tweet he said 'we have sent in names for members, we'll need to wait until new membership is appointed'. The next proposed meeting of the PCPM is in four months’ time – April – is that when it is intended the next term will begin?"
She says she resigned "due to lack of co-operation by some curia departments with the Commission" but for other reasons also, such as "the steady erosion of the independence" of the members. She warns of a "low priority being given to this issue of child protection despite the assurances so often given by the Pope and others that it has the highest priority."
Her comments came soon after Greg Burke, the spokesman, disclosed that the Pope met this week with "a small group of victims of sexual abuse by priests" at the apostolic nunciature in Santiago, Chile.
"The meeting took place in a strictly private way, and no one else was present: only the pope and the victims," Burke told journalists that evening.
The private setting, he added, allowed the group to speak freely with the pope "and recount their sufferings".
Pope Francis "listened, prayed and cried with them", Burke said.
Also present at the press conference was Auxiliary Bishop Fernando Ramos Perez of Santiago, secretary-general of the Chilean bishops' conference.
Bishop Ramos addressed criticism regarding the presence of Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno at several papal events, including the pope's meetings with the country's clergy as well as the bishops of Chile.
Bishop Barros' appointment as bishop by the pope in 2015 drew outrage and protests due to his connection to Father Fernando Karadima, his former mentor. Father Karadima was sentenced to a life of prayer and penance by the Vatican after he was found guilty of sexually abusing boys.
"Bishop Barros is bishop of Osorno and was named by the pope. All bishops have the right and responsibility to participate at the events. That was the only reason why he was present," said Bishop Ramos.
Earlier in the day, the pope asked forgiveness from the victims of sexual abuse during an address to government authorities and members of Chile's diplomatic corps, expressing his "pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the church".
Burke said it was significant the pope addressed the issue of clergy sex abuse during his meeting with government authorities "because normally he speaks about it when meeting with bishops or priests".
"The fact that he spoke there means that it is an evil not only for the church but for society," Burke said.
(Pic: Pope Francis meets with Chile's bishops in the sacristy of the cathedral in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 16. Credit: CNS photo/Paul Haring.)
Note: This article has been edited to include details of Marie Collins' blog.)
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