Pope apologises for 'slap in the face' to abuse victims with demand for proof

Pope Francis has apologised for insisting that victims of paedophile priests show "proof" to be believed, saying he realised it was a "slap in the face" to victims that he never intended.

But he continued to defend a Chilean bishop accused by victims of covering up for the country's most notorious paedophile priest, and he repeated that anyone who makes such accusations without providing evidence is guilty of slander.