At the end of May, the Vatican announced that from June 1 to 3, Pope Francis would receive a second group of victims of sexual abuse from Chile.
They are five priests who suffered 'abuses of power, conscience and sexuality.' The press release reported that they would be accompanied by two lay people 'implicated in this suffering' and two priests who helped them and other victims.
FR. FRANCISCO JAVIER ASTABURUAGA
Abuse Victims' Advisor
“I come with much hope to dialogue with the Holy Father, together with the other priests. What we want is to contribute, and the Pope wants to listen to us. That is very important, that he wants to listen to us'.
'It always seems important to me that there are instances of dialogue. The Holy Father has listened to the episcopal conference, he has listened to victims and now he is going to listen to a group of priests.”
Their testimonies are in the report made by the special envoy to Chile, Charles Scicluna, in February on behalf of the pope. After knowing its content, Pope Francis convened a first group of victims at the end of April and all the bishops of Chile in mid-May.
He did so through a letter in which he requested their collaboration to repair the scandal as much as possible and restore justice.' It is during his trip to Chile that the pope spoke in defense of Bishop Barros. He is suspected of covering up the priest who the Vatican condemned for abuses, Fernando Karadima.
In light of further information, Pope Francis acknowledged that he had made 'serious mistakes' and called for measures 'in the short, medium and long term to reestablish ecclesial communion in Chile.'
