VATICAN CITY
Headlines from the Catholic World
Vatican City, Sep 28, 2015 / 05:14 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his wide-ranging press briefing en route from the United States to Rome, Pope Francis spoke on the difficult subject of forgiving priests who have molested minors, saying that the strength to forgive, and to be forgiven, can only come from God.
Francis also told journalists that while he is willing to forgive clergy who have abused children and young people, he understands why there are some who find this difficult.
“We must forgive, because we were all forgiven,” the Pope said. However, “it is another thing to receive that forgiveness.”
Pope Francis told journalists on board the papal plane he is not judgmental of victims or the families of molested children who struggle to forgive the abuser.
He illustrated this point by recalling a meeting he once had with a victim of molestation, who told him that her mother had “lost her faith and died an atheist” on account of the abuse.
“I understand that woman,” the Pope said, “and God who is even better than me understands her.”
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