Pope Francis has called all presidents of episcopal conferences to a historic meeting to discuss abuses.
The meeting will take place in the Vatican from February 21-24. The decision was announced after the pontiff's three day meeting with his advisory council of nine cardinals.
Throughout 2018 the pope has taken several initiatives to face this drama. In May, after learning the details of a report on abuses in Chile, he summoned the bishops to study the gravity of the situation.
In August the Attorney General of Pennsylvania published a report that the Vatican greeted with sorrow. It states that more than 300 priests allegedly abused more than 1,000 minors. The pope reacted with a letter addressed to all Catholics asking for initiatives to prevent abuse, fasting and penance.
In Ireland he apologized for the abuses committed and on returning from the trip he said he has almost weekly meetings with victims.
