The Chilean Catholic Church is facing a crisis: over 30 bishops offered their resignation to pope Francis at The Vatican last week, following a summit in which the pontiff addressed the results of an internal investigation regarding sex abuse scandals and cover-up accusations.
In a statement issued Tuesday the Church confirmed that the Pope is to rendezvous with five priests who were victims of power and sexual abuse by reverend Fernando Karadima, who was sentenced in 2011 to a life of prayer and penance after being found guilty of abusing minors at his parish.
The encounter is set to last three days, from 1 to 3 June, and the victims will be accompanied by two priests who have helped them “in their legal and spiritual journey” as well as two laymen who are “involved in said pain”.
The clergymen will participate in a private mass, held by Francis himself, group talks and, finally, private audiences.
This is the second round of meetings organised by the Church after Francis’ cold and criticised trip to Chile, in January.
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Three well-known Karadima victims already met with the Pope at The Vatican, where they told him their stories.
Whether he will accept or not the resignations is uncertain. What is clear is that he has not made a decision on the matter yet.
The president of Chile’s Conference of Bishops, Santiago Silva, stated that the most important action to be taken is to repair the harm caused by priests.
The most controversial figure in this case is the bishop of Osorno, Juan Barros, who is accused by many of concealing Karadima’s crimes and obstructing investigations against him.
Francis defended Barros at St. Peter’s Square back in 2015, when he said that the diocese suffered because “it was dumb” and it had allowed “leftist politicians” to fill parishioners’ heads with nonsense.
