VATICAN CITY, April 11 (UPI) -- Pope Francis apologized for sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests Friday, promising members of the non-government organization International Catholic Child Bureau gathered at the Vatican there would be no “step backwards” in punishing identified abusers.
“I feel compelled to personally…ask for forgiveness for the damage they have done for having sexually abused children,” he said, adding he considers fighting abuse as a priority of his papacy.