Pope cries at child abuse

POPE Francis publicly expressed “pain and shame” yesterday over the rape and molestation of children by priests in Chile and later listened, prayed and cried at a private meeting with victims.

Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said the meeting took place in the Vatican embassy in Santiago. “No one else was present. Only the Pope and the victims,” the spokesman said.

“Here I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the Church,” the Pope told a crowd including the President.