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The "Summit on the Protection of Minors in the Church" opened this Thursday, February 21 at the Vatican. The first day was marked by the words of the victims, listened to by the 114 presidents of episcopal conferences around the world.
With our special correspondent in Rome, Geneviève Delrue
The first day of the summit on the prevention of minors at the Vatican, held on Thursday 21 February in response to the crisis of sexual abuse in the Church, was on the theme of responsibility. In this case, that of the bishop who must act in the context of canon law and civil law when an abuse occurs in his diocese.
This second day is about accountability - in French, the accounts to be done - about what has been done. It begins with the speech of a member of the curia, followed by moments of exchange. The meetings are held in camera, but the prelates' presentations are accessible to all.
Break the omerta
In this, the Vatican breaks with its old habits and wants to play the card of transparency, indispensable on a subject where concealment is at the heart of the crisis. And this, while associations of victims are heard every day at the doors of the Vatican.
For the opening day on Thursday the communication of the Archbishop of Bogota, Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, who vigorously denounced the excesses of power authorized by some members of the clergy, opening the door to abuse of all kinds.
►Read again: An unprecedented summit at the Vatican to fight sexual abuse in the Church