Philip Pullella, Rome, May 2, 2018<\/p>\n
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Francis told Chilean victims of clerical sexual abuse \u201cI was part of the problem\u201d and apologized for dismissing accusations of a cover-up by Catholic bishops, one of the victims said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
At an emotional news conference after four days of private meetings with the pope, three men who were victims of Chile\u2019s most notorious paedophile urged Francis to take action against several Chilean bishops.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor almost 10 years we have been treated as enemies because we fight against sexual abuse and cover-up in the Church,\u201d Juan Carlos Cruz, James Hamilton and Jose Andres Murillo, said in a joint statement read out to reporters.<\/p>\n
The three men, who were guests of the pope at his residence, said that during their long conversations, Francis had been attentive, receptive and very empathetic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never, never seen someone be so contrite … I felt that he was hurting, which for me was very solemn. It\u2019s not often that the pope says sorry to you and apologizes to you for something,\u201d Cruz said in response to a question.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe (the pope) said \u201cI was part of the problem, I caused this and I apologize to you,\u2019\u201d Cruz said. \u201cI believe that he was sincere.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a dramatic U-turn last month, Pope Francis said in a letter to Chilean bishops that he had made \u201cgrave mistakes\u201d in the handling of the sexual abuse crisis there, saying he felt shame for what had happened.<\/p>\n
The letter followed a Vatican investigation into Bishop Juan Barros, who was appointed by the pope in 2015 despite allegations that he had covered up sexual abuse of minors by his mentor, Father Fernando Karadima.<\/p>\n
Barros has said he was unaware of any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
In his letter to Chilean bishops last month, Francis said there had been a \u201clack of truthful and balanced information\u201d about the situation in Chile before he sent the Vatican\u2019s most experienced investigator of sexual abuse, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, to investigate.<\/p>\n
\u201cScicluna really opened his (the pope\u2019s) eyes,\u201d Cruz said.<\/p>\n
Scicluna produced a 2,300-page report, which prompted the pope to summon the bishops to Rome for a meeting this month.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are waiting for action. We are not here to do public relations,\u201d said Murillo when asked what he wanted Francis to do.<\/p>\n
Hamilton said the pope had told him \u201cthere is no turning back now\u201d.<\/p>\n
All three agreed the pope should follow through by taking action against Barros and other bishops they say covered up the abuse by Karadima and discredited their claims.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went to (Church officials in Chile) for help when I was dying inside and they killed a second time,\u201d Hamilton said of the bishops who ignored him even though there was overwhelming evidence against Karadima.<\/p>\n
Hamilton called the bishops who he said had covered up the abuse \u201ccriminals\u201d who deserved to be jailed.<\/p>\n
Karadima was found guilty in a Vatican investigation in 2011 of abusing boys in Santiago in the 1970s and 1980s. But he never faced civilian justice because of the statute of limitations.<\/p>\n
Now 87 and living in a nursing home in Chile, Karadima has always denied the allegations and Barros said he was unaware of any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
The joint statement said they told the pope he had to do something about the \u201cpathological and unlimited exercise of power\u201d in the Church that can foster abuse.<\/p>\n