Former Southlander sets sights on Vatican

A former Southlander and sexual abuse victim is hoping for a meeting with Pope Francis when he visits the Vatican early next year.

Darryl Smith, who now lives in Dunedin, said the trip was to finally take people to task for what had happened to him and thousands of others.

Confronting those who were in positions of power in the church was not easy and it took time before Smith felt he was ready.

‘‘You have to be strong enough to confront it. To go to Rome, for me as a survivor, it’s a long journey to go to meet the people responsible for letting this happen. It’ll be some closure, not much, but it’ll be some.’’

The trip coincides with a gathering organised by Pope Francis to discuss the sexual abuse that has cast a shadow over the Catholic church in recent years.

Smith’s visit in February will be funded largely by Dunedin Bishop Michael Dooley, the donation will cover his flights and accommodation.

‘‘I feel over the moon, people like him have believed in me, in what I am doing.’’

The trip is for eight days and he will meet with other sexual abuse survivors.

But the main goal was to have an audience with the Pope, Smith said.

Rev. Michael Dooley said after speaking with Smith he knew helping him get to Rome was the right thing to do. ‘‘I’m supporting him personally, with having talked with him, It’ll be good, It’s one thing I’m happy to do.

‘‘That [support] is very important for the survivors talking to them, actually taking their stories seriously and having people listen. That’s really important,’’ he said.