Pope calls for action on child sex abuse

Pope Francis wants the Catholic Church to “act decisively” to root out child sexual abuse of children by priests and ensure the perpetrators are punished, the Vatican has said.

In talks with the Holy See’s doctrinal chief, Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, he said combating sexual abuse was important “for the Church and its credibility”.

The Pope inherited a Church mired by scandals over priestly abuse of children, and this is believed to be the first time he has taken up the issue with a senior member of staff.

Archbishop Mueller is head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican department that includes the office of the “promoter of justice”, or sex crimes prosecutor, which investigates cases of abuse and decides if priests are to be defrocked.

The Pope said the department should continue to “act decisively as far as cases of sexual abuse are concerned, promoting, above all, measures to protect minors, help for those who have suffered such violence in the past [and] the necessary procedures against those who are guilty”. He wants bishops around the world to put into place “directives in this matter”, the Vatican said.

When first elected, Benedict XVI promised to rid his Church of the “filth” of clerical sex abuse, but critics accused him of covering up abuse in the past and failing to protect children.