Abuse in Poland: Pope informed, ‘the guilty will be punished’

By Vatican News

“The Holy Father is informed of the appeal. He is praying for those who sent it. The entire Church must do everything possible so that the canonical norms are applied, cases of abuse are brought to light and those guilty of these serious crimes are punished.” 

With these words, the Director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni replied to journalists who asked him to comment on the appeal published by 635 Polish faithful at their own expense in the Italian daily La Repubblica on Monday morning, 29 June.

“Holy Father Francis! Repair our Church!” is the title of the appeal. “We beg you!” the petitioners wrote to the Pope. “Look with kindness on the Church in Poland where cases of paedophilia have occurred. Loyalty to the institution is blind and deaf - more important than the good of the victims.”

The petitioners lament “the lack of decisive reaction on the part of the ecclesiastical hierarchy”. They emphasise that certain behaviours affect the unity of the Church “because it divides us between those who are concerned about the image of the institution and those who care about the good of the victims.”