Pope Meets Victims of Pedophile Priests in Philadelphia

Washington, Sep 27 (Prensa Latina) Pope Francis held today a meeting in Philadelphia with victims of sexual abuse by clergy in the United States and affirmed that those responsible for such acts then said that those responsible for such acts most hold ''accountable''.

During a ceremony with some 300 bishops in the chapel of San Martin, San Carlos Borromeo Seminary, the Pope left all circumlocution and stated that 'crimes, sins of sexual abuse of children can not be kept secret for more time'.

The Pope promised to lead 'surveillance of the Church' and established that 'all those responsible render account'.

Francisco's words came just after meeting with abused children: 'I am deeply sorry, God weeps', he told the curia.

Some organizations of victims of pedophilia had questioned so far His Holiness has praised in this North American tour of the curia courage to face 'dark times' without placing the emphasis on the suffering of the survivors.

The first Latin American and Jesuit pope said Sunday that he takes 'engraved in the heart (...) the suffering of children who were sexually abused by priests'.

Francisco again alluded to the shame caused by 'people who had in their care those little children to whom they caused serious damage', and said that 'the survivors of abuse have become heralds of hope and true ministers of mercy'.

'Humbly we owe each of them and their families our gratitude", the Pope said in praise of the attitude of the victims and in the context of the completion of the eighth Sunday World Meeting of Families, prelude to the Synod on the institution fixed to the Vatican from 4 to 25 October next.

This Sunday, the pope also recognized that civil marriage and sacramental no longer coincide exactly or support each other in today's world, and urged bishops to not ignore "the transformation of the historical context 'and the cultural and social changes which have been generated.

In this situation, he called out to the religious announce the Gospel to everyone and everywhere, in contrast to the consumerism that characterizes societies.

The Pope described the contemporary society as 'a vast multicultural showcase ' and criticized it is 'linked only to the tastes of some consumers and, on the other hand, there are many others, people who only eat the crumbs that fall from the table their masters.' 

He also referred to those who are 'behind an 'I like' or to increase the number of followers in social networks: "So go, we go, human beings in the proposal that offers this contemporary society; solitude with fear of commitment in a frantic search for feeling recognized", he said.

Moreover, the Pope, who on this day concludes his five-day visit to the United States regretted in this country legalization of gay marriage, which he considered consistent with traditional tenets of the Church as a 'tragic mistake'.

Before leaving for Rome on Sunday, Francisco visit inmates in the prison Curran-Fromhold and offer a Mass that will serve as the culmination World Meeting of Families.