Following three days of meetings with Pope Francis in the Vatican, the bishops of Chile met the press and read a statement in which they thanked the Pope for having listened to them “paternally and for having offered his fraternal correction” during these days “of reflection and prayer”. Speaking briefly to the press after having read their statement, the bishops explained that they have put their positions “in the hands of the Holy Father and will leave it to him to decide freely” for each of them. They also referred to a document handed to them personally by the Pontiff in which are indicated a series of “absolutely reprehensible things that have happened in the Chilean Church in relation to unacceptable abuses of power, conscience and of sexual [nature], and which have led to diminishing of the prophetic vigor that characterized the Church.”
AS reported by Vatican news, the Bishops said, “We ask forgiveness for the pain caused to the victims of clerical sex abuse, to the Pope, to the people of God and to their country for their grave mistakes and omissions.” The Bishops added, “We thank the victims, the bishops continued , for their perseverance and for their courage in the face of all the grave personal, spiritual, social and family difficulties they have had to face, a burden,” they specified, often aggravated by the incomprehension and attacks of the ecclesial community.
Vowing to commit themselves fully to this new path the bishops concluded their statement expressing their desire that “the face of the Lord may shine anew” in the Chilean Church and with “humility and hope” they appealed to all to help them in their endeavor.
