The pope sent them a powerful video message showing his support for those who work to stop abuse in Latin America.
POPE FRANCIS
“Keep working. You will be misunderstood. They'll tell you you're wasting your time. They'll threaten you, because there are also people who threaten. More than one person will tell you they can send a hitman to clear the field. Be prudent. Take care of yourselves, but stay strong and keep working.”
The pope recorded this message after meeting with CEPROME. It's the main Latin American center dedicated to empowering laypeople, priests and bishops in the fight against abuse. It belongs to the Pontifical University of Mexico.
POPE FRANCIS
“I know you are fighting everywhere to prevent, with the force of good, all the destruction caused by evil. When we see the destructive capacity of evil, we are sometimes discouraged. We lose hope. No, that can't happen. Evil can always be defeated.”
Experts from CEPROME are offering courses and workshops throughout Latin America to detect abuse in Catholic institutions, to help victims and to ensure safe environments.
They partner with the Center for Child Protection, part of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, which is one of the most active institutions in the fight against abuse in the Church.
