Pope Francis listens to abuse victims © Alessandra Tarantino
A Chilean bishop is accused of covering up sexual assaults by his spiritual mentor. Francis invited three victims to the Vatican for several days. What follows from the meeting is unforeseeable.
Silence and listening. This weekend, Pope Francis did what a confessor does to let three well-traveled men unburden their hearts. Except it wasn't about their own sins – but those of a now 87-year-old priest, Fernando Karadima, who sexually abused the men when they were boys. And it involves the current bishop, Juan Barros, who is accused of having known about it.
As much time for talks as needed
On Friday evening, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke announced in a statement distributed in Spanish that the talks had begun. At the express request of the Pope, nothing was to be said about the contents in order to preserve confidentiality. There was talk of a "climate of trust and healing of what has been suffered". He said there should be as much time as necessary for that.
Juan Carlos Cruz, James Hamilton and Jose Andres Murillo accepted the pope's invitation. What the three have in common is that they are victims of Karadima – a priest who for a long time was considered a shining light of the church in Chile, charismatic, inspiring. From his circle emerged many priests and even bishops.
Allegations against Karadima have been circulating since the mid-1980s; but it was not until 2010 that a trial got underway under public prere. A church court sentenced him to a life of seclusion and penance for psychological and sexual violence. They let him keep his priesthood. Karadima's victims complain his actions were covered up for too long. Specific allegations are also directed against Juan Barros, spiritual disciple of Karadima and now bishop of Osorno. He is accused of having witnessed the abuses.
On behalf of all who have "suffered so much"
Cruz, Hamilton and Murillo see the meeting in Rome as a crucial step in dealing with the scandal. "We want to be here in the name of all who have suffered so much," Murillo said ahead of time. He also remembered those who took their own lives.
Francis talking to abuse victims is nothing new. When traveling abroad, he used to see her almost regularly outside the official program. Such encounters also take place in the Vatican, without anything leaking out to the public. This weekend's talks are significant nonetheless – for the scope of the scandal in Chile and for the form of the meeting.
The controversy over Barros' involvement in the Karadima case is weighing on more than just Chile. When Francis vehemently defended Barros during his January visit, his own credibility on abuse disclosure was suddenly in doubt as well. Victims said they had sent the pope an incriminating dossier on Barros. Apparently it went unnoticed.
Under one roof with the pope
Francis eventually dispatched Archbishop Charles Scicluna as a special investigator; the former chief prosecutor of abuse cases filed a 2.300-page documentary presented that prompted pope to convene Chilean bishops. In a letter, he accused them of insufficient and one-sided information. Now, he said, it's a matter of "restoring trust in the church".
This also includes the personal apology to the victims. From Thursday to probably Monday, the men are guests in the Vatican, living under one roof with the Pope. It is well known that for Francis direct encounters are of great importance. What momentum these days are developing with regard to his stance on abuse is unforeseeable. Only that something must change seems clear.
Around abuse of power and responsibility revolved a two-hour conversation Murillo shared on Twitter. He called his dealings with the pope "very respectful and open". He went on to write, "I only hope that this will do some good." Hamilton also spoke with Francis for "just over two hours" on Saturday, "honest, welcoming and enormously constructive".
Beautiful words and tears were not enough
If the confidential talks end, the three men want to see consequences. He did not want to compete for a PR campaign, Cruz said in the run-up to the event. Fine words and tears were not enough. The 54-year-old works as head of communications for companies of the chemical giant DowDuPont, which produces crop protection products.
Francis must remove the "toxic" employees from his environment, Cruz demanded. The weeds in the Lord's field.
By Burkhard Jurgens