Pope Francis urges bishops to extend outreach to abuse survivors

Pope Francis (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Pope Francis called on Catholic bishops conferences to create special centres to welcome victims of clergy sexual abuse, warning that the faithful would continue losing trust in the church hierarchy without more transparency and accountability.

Francis urged his sexual abuse advisory commission, which he created in 2013 as an ad hoc body and recently fully integrated into the Vatican structure, to help bishops conferences around the world establish survivor welcome centres where victims could find healing and justice.