Pope Leo XIV told 192 new bishops from around the world that they must respond promptly to allegations of inappropriate or abusive behaviour by priests. Source: CNS.
“These cannot be put in a drawer – they must be addressed with a sense of mercy and true justice toward both the victims and the accused,” the Pope told the bishops on Thursday, according to the Vatican press office.
The Pope spent the morning with the prelates, including five from Australia, who were in Rome for the Vatican’s annual formation courses for new bishops. The courses included sessions on handling abuse allegations.
Pope Leo read a prepared speech to the group, which was broadcast in the Vatican press office and published on the Vatican website on Thursday. Leo continued sharing his concerns and advice with the bishops before opening the floor to their questions.
The press office published a summary of the closed-door session on Friday.
The Pope asked the bishops to be “be persevering disciples, not afraid when faced with the first difficulty, pastors close to the people and to their priests, merciful yet firm – even when it comes to making judgments –capable of listening and dialogue, not merely preaching,” the Vatican summary said.
“Be builders of bridges,” he told the bishops, including by embracing synodality, “which he described not as a pastoral method, but as ‘a style of Church, of listening and of shared search for the mission to which we are called’.”
Also on Friday, Pope Leo had his first official meeting with French Archbishop Thibault Verny of Chambéry, whom the Pope had named president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in July.
FULL STORY
Pope tells new bishops they must address abuse claims promptly (By Cindy Wooden, CNS)
