From June 1-3, 2018, the Holy Father will receive a second group of victims of the Reverend Fernando Karadima and his followers, of the parish of the Sacred Heart of Providencia (“El Bosque”), states the Holy See, in a press released dated May 22, 2018.
They are five priests, victims of sexual abuses and of abuses of power and conscience. Two other priests will be with them, who have helped the victims in their juridical and spiritual itinerary, and two laymen involved in this suffering. All will be guests of the Holy Father in Casa Santa Marta.
The great majority of these people took part in the meetings held in Chile last February, during the special mission of Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu. The rest have collaborated in the weeks after the visit.
Closeness to Abused Priests
With this new meeting, planned a month ago, Pope Francis wants to show his closeness to the abused priests, to accompany them in their pain, and to listen to their valuable opinion to improve the existing preventive measures and the fight against abuses in the Church.
The first phase thus concludes the Holy Father’s meetings with the victims of the abusive system established several decades ago in the mentioned parish. These priests and laymen represent all the victims of the abuses of the clergy in Chile, but the repetition of similar initiatives in the future is not discarded.
Prayer and Solidarity
There will be several meetings in the course of the weekend, which will unfold in an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality. On Saturday morning, June 2, the Pope will celebrate a private Mass in Saint Martha’s House. Planned in the early afternoon is a group meeting, followed by individual conversations.
The Pontiff continues to ask the faithful of Chile – especially the faithful of the parishes where these priests carry out their pastoral ministry – to accompany them with prayer and solidarity during these days.
