Pope Francis has called for “decisive action” in the fight against sex abuse of minors by priests. He told Bishop Gerhard Mueller, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith - the Vatican watchdog that deals with sex abuse cases - to ensure that perpetrators were punished.
It was the Argentine Pope’s first public statement on clerical sex abuse.
A leading sex abuse survivors’ group has responded with scepticism, saying “actions speak louder than words”.
The new Pope was elected last month, replacing Pope Benedict, who became the first pope in 600 years to resign.
When first elected, Benedict XVI promised to rid his Church of the “filth” of clerical sex abuse, but critics accused him of covering up abuse in the past and failing to protect children from paedophile priests.
Victims of sex abuse by clergies had called for a strong response from the new pontiff to the crisis that has rocked the Church.
Pope Francis has inherited a major scandal which demands continuing decisive action. Archbishop Mueller, the German cleric in charge of the Vatican department, which investigates cases of sexual abuse - and decides whether paedophile priests are to be defrocked - has had several meetings with Pope Francis since his recent election.
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