A time for prayer and meditation for Chile’s Bishops

By Vatican News

Pope Francis has given the Bishops of Chile a series of themes for meditation at their meeting Tuesday at the Vatican.

Addressing the crisis

The Holy Father called the meeting with the Chilean episcopate to address the crisis of clerical sexual abuse, and the failure of church leaders to respond adequately to it. The meeting was prompted by the reception of 2300-page report by two special envoys sent to Rome by Pope Francis earlier this year. The envoys, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta and Fr Jordi Bertomeu Farnós, travelled to the Americas to hear testimony from victims of clerical abuse.

Upon receiving the final report, Pope Francis “humbly” requesting the Bishops’ “collaboration and assistance in discerning the short-, mid-, and long-term measures that must be adopted to re-establish ecclesial communion in Chile, with the goal of repairing as much as possible the scandal, and re-establishing justice.” The meeting in Rome is intended to discuss the results of the envoys’ visit and discuss the Pope’s conclusions.

A time for meditation and prayer
 

The Pope held the first meeting with the Bishops on Tuesday afternoon in the auletta of the Paul VI Hall. Thirty-four Chilean Bishops were in attendance. According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the Pope gave each of the Bishops a text with themes for meditation. “From this moment and until the next meeting, a time is open [which is] dedicated exclusively to meditation and prayer,” the statement said.

The next meeting between the Pope and the Chilean Bishops will take place Wednesday afternoon, with two additional meetings planned for Thursday