Warsaw Conference: Pope supports the fight against pedophilia in the Church
Pope Francis speaking from the Vatican, August 18, 2021. REUTERS - VATICAN MEDIA
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An international conference on the protection of minors in the Church opens this Sunday in Warsaw.
Organized by the Vatican in connection with the Polish Episcopal Conference, it brings together some twenty countries of Central and Eastern Europe to advance the issue of the fight against pedophilia and abuse.
An event to which Pope Francis has lent his support.
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With our correspondent in the Vatican,
Éric Sénanque
As the first summit of its kind for Central Europe opens this Sunday, Pope Francis strongly recalls his determination to end sexual crimes in the Church.
In his message made public on the eve of the opening of this Warsaw conference, the Sovereign Pontiff does not mince his words.
He asks "
that the well-being of the victims is not put aside in favor of an unwelcome concern for the reputation of the Church as an institution
".
On the contrary, says Francis
"by
facing these cruel behaviors with truth and humbly seeking forgiveness from the victims and survivors that the Church will be able to find the path of trust
".
Questions affecting the future of the Church
Marked by numerous
pedophilia scandals
, Poland will be the setting for this four-day conference, organized by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, in conjunction with the local Churches.
About twenty countries of Central and Eastern Europe will be represented.
The objective is above all to listen to the victims, but also to improve the communication of the ecclesiastical authorities on these questions with the civil society.
For François this meeting in Warsaw is an essential step.
These discussions, he specifies in his message to the participants, “
really touch on the future of the Church in Central and Eastern Europe
”.
► To read also: Pedophilia in the Church: a report details the abuses committed by the Legionaries of Christ
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Rights of the child