Pope Francis has begged forgiveness from the victims of sexual abuse by priests, at his first meeting with the victims since his election.
'I beg your forgiveness': Pope Francis meets with victims of sexual abuse http://t.co/XCtiNtkiSz pic.twitter.com/hzRzGNHAP9
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The Pope met six victims, two each from Ireland, Britain and Germany after a private morning Mass in the Vatican and went on to make his strongest comments yet on abuse within the Church, the BBC reports.
He condemned the Church's "complicity" in hiding the abuse and said it must “weep and make reparation” for the “grave crimes” committed by clerics.
The Church has been criticised after a series of abuse scandals worldwide
The Pope said the abuses had been “camouflaged with a complicity that cannot be explained”.
He apologised to victims for the “sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse”, which he described as “a sacrilegious cult” that insulted God.
