Pope Francis launched the second phase of his Catholic Church reform by asking forgiveness for various wrongs. He stressed that the church must acknowledge its sins to regain credibility with the faithful. This penitential act took place after his challenging trip to Belgium, where issues such as clergy sexual abuse and women’s treatment highlighted the church’s failures.
“How can we be credible in our mission if we don’t recognize our own errors and bow down to heal the wounds that we have caused with our sins?” Francis asked.
Addressing Wounds within the Church
In a vigil service at St. Peter’s Basilica, top cardinals apologized for the destruction of the environment, discrimination against women, and the church’s rejection of migrants. Francis emphasized the need to bow down and heal the wounds caused by the church’s past sins, especially if it aims to restore trust and faith.
One of the most poignant moments came when Laurence Gien, a survivor of clergy abuse, shared his personal experience. He criticized the church’s lack of transparency and accountability, calling for justice and protection for its most vulnerable members. This statement underscored the crisis’s effect on the faith of millions of Catholics worldwide.
A Push for Broader Reform
The vigil service was a prelude to the official start of a three-week synod, during which bishops and laypeople will discuss the church’s future, including the role of women. The abuse scandal has deeply affected the church’s credibility, fueling calls for structural reforms to include lay Catholics, especially women, in more significant decision-making roles.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, a long-standing advisor to the pope on child protection, read a request for forgiveness for the church’s failures in dealing with abuse. He expressed shame over the abuse and highlighted the need for the church to seek forgiveness for the harm caused.
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Pope leads top cardinals in atoning for a host of sins ahead of a new phase of reform effort
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