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Pope Regularly Meets With Victims of Sexual Abuse, Greg Burke Confirms

Director of Vatican Press Office Says Francis Meets Victims Several Times a Month, to Listen, Try to Help Heal ‘Serious Wounds’

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Pope Francis regularly meets with victims of sexual abuse, to listen and to try to help them heal from their serious wounds.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, confirmed this today, Feb. 15, 2018, in a statement, responding to inquiries of journalists.
Burke explained that the Pope meets these victims both individually and in groups, a couple times a month.
«Pope Francis,» he explained, «listens to the victims and tries to help heal the serious wounds caused by the abuse they have suffered.»
He noted that the encounters take place in  «utmost privacy,» out of respect for the victims and their suffering.
Below is the text of the Vatican spokesman’s declaration:
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In response to questions from journalists, I am able to confirm that several times a month, the Holy Father meets with victims of sexual abuse, both individually and in groups. Pope Francis listens to the victims and tries to help heal the serious wounds caused by the abuse they have suffered. The encounters take place in the utmost privacy, out of respect for the victims and their suffering.

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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