Pope Francis calls on European bishops to hear victims of sexual abuse

In a video message to the bishops of Central and Eastern Europe who will gather in Poland for a four-day conference on child protection, the pope said that if they fail to take into account the views of victims, it could endanger the future of the Catholic Church.

In Poland alone, a large number of bishops have been sanctioned by the Vatican in recent months, that successor did not listen to the victims and that they took no measures against those who violated and harassed them.

Only by facing the truth of this cruel conduct and humbly seeking forgiveness from victims and survivors. The church can find the way for once again to be considered and is believed to be a welcome and security place for those who need it”, Pope Francis has said.

He said priests should be the first to listen to the victims, not last, and should be at their service “viewing them as friends and protagonists of a common future”, Euronews writes.