Francis meets with victims of abuse, promises ‘accountability’

Pope Francis recently held his first meeting with victims of clergy sexual abuse, begging for forgiveness and promising to hold “accountable” the bishops who were complicit in covering up for predatory priests.

Francis held a private mass in Vatican City July 7 with three male and three female victims from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany before meeting with them individually for about 30 minutes. In total, the first-ever meetings spanned more than three hours.

“Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness,” the pope said, according to a Vatican transcript of his morning homily.