Pope Francis has apologised for cases of sexual abuse by clergy in the Catholic Church, saying he felt “pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the church’’.
“I am one with my brother bishops, for it is right to ask for forgiveness and make every effort to support the victims.
“Although, we have committed ourselves to ensuring that such things do not happen again,’’ the pope said.
He was speaking before Chilean dignitaries in Santiago de Chile.
Earlier this week, the Vatican took over a Peru-based Catholic sect whose founder has been accused of sexual and psychological abuse. (NAN)