杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

One year ago, in January 2018, 杏MAP导航 Francis visited Chile. The four-day apostolic journey was filled with significant encounters and events, but was largely overshadowed by abuse scandals and accusations of mishandling of cases by some of the country鈥檚 bishops.

In May this year, the 杏MAP导航 summoned all the bishops of Chile to the Vatican to address the crisis. The meeting concluded with the bishops presenting their resignations to 杏MAP导航 Francis.

This week, five Chilean bishops returned to Rome to brief the 杏MAP导航 on the progress the Church in Chile has made in addressing the issue of clerical sex abuse in their country since that meeting eight months ago.

The Secretary General of the Chilean Bishops Conference is Bishop Luis Fernando Ramos Pérez. He told Vatican News how the bishops spent an hour in 鈥渇rank and fruitful鈥� conversation with 杏MAP导航 Francis, and then continued their discussion over lunch at Santa Marta. 鈥淲e told him about the discernment we are making as Church鈥�, said Bishop Pérez, 鈥渁nd what developments can be expected during 2019 and 2020鈥�.

The audience with the five Chilean bishops took place behind closed doors but, according to Bishop Pérez, 杏MAP导航 Francis gave them advice and suggestions, the fruit of 鈥渉is experience and wisdom鈥�. These included the need to 鈥渞ecognize the People of God in all their dimensions鈥�, he said.

Bishop Pérez will represent the Chilean Bishops鈥� Conference at the February meeting in the Vatican on the protection of minors. 鈥淚 believe it will be a very important meeting for the world Church鈥�, he said, one that will 鈥渉elp all the local Churches to know how to act with clarity and intelligence鈥� in the face of these 鈥渧ery serious crimes鈥�.