This was one of the first ceremonies of the year: the baptism of 34 children in the Sistine Chapel. The Pope reminded the parents that they are the first transmitters of the faith and must do so with the language of love within the family.
In January, Pope Francis made one of the most important trips of 2018 when he went to Chile and Peru.
His first major speech was before the political authorities of Chile. There, he apologized for the sexual abuse of minors committed by priests in the country.
POPE FRANCIS
“Here I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the Church.”
In Chile he also visited a women's prison. It was a moving meeting in which he said that dignity is untouchable.
POPE FRANCIS
“Being deprived of freedom isn't the same as being deprived of dignity. It's not the same. No one touches dignity, it's taken care of.”
The anecdote of the trip occurred inside the plane, where he celebrated the wedding of a flight attendant couple.
“Let them kiss, let the couple kiss!”
In Chile, the Pope came out in defense of the then Bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros, accused of covering up abuses. This phrase caused much controversy.
POPE FRANCIS
“The day they bring me evidence against Bishop Barros, I'll begin talking. There is not one piece of evidence against him. Everything is slander. Is that clear?”
The most symbolic moment of his trip to Peru was the visit to Puerto Maldonado, in the Amazon. There, he met with indigenous people.
POPE FRANCIS
“We need to speak out against the pressure applied to certain countries by international organizations that promote reproductive policies favoring infertility. These are particularly directed at the native peoples. We know too that the practice of sterilizing women, at times without their knowledge, continues to be promoted.”
Pope Francis said goodbye to Peru with one of his largest Masses in an air base near Lima.
Then, on the flight back to Rome, he reiterated his point about the Chilean bishop Juan Barros, apologized to victims of abuse and asked for more information about the accusations
POPE FRANCIS
“That's what I meant to say. I don't have evidence to convict him. If I convicted him without evidence, or without moral certainty, I would commit an offense of a bad judge.” “The best thing to do, he or she who believes it's the case, provide the evidence quickly. If they believe that's truly the case.”
It was the beginning of the end of a story that would still take many months to resolve throughout the year.
