Pope Francis admits existence of corruption in Vatican, condemns sexual abuses

ROME (PNA/Sputnik/CNA/EWTN News) – Pope Francis admitted that the Vatican suffered from corruption and condemned sexual abuses committed by Catholic priests.

“There is corruption in the Vatican,” he said, but added that “I’m at peace.” If a problem comes up, Francis says he writes it down on a piece of paper and puts it underneath a statue of a sleeping St. Joseph he has in his room.

“Now he sleeps on a mattress of notes!” the Pope said, explaining that this is why “I sleep well: It is the grace of God.”

When asked how he keeps peace amid tension and opposition, the Pope jested, saying “I don’t take tranquilizers!” and said he’s learned to take the advice given to him by Italians, to maintain “a healthy couldn’t-care-less attitude.”

Other than entrusting his problems to the care of St. Joseph, Francis said he has his own daily regimen of personal prayer, including Mass, the rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours and scripture.

After praying, “the peace within me grows... my peace is a gift from the Lord,” Pope Francis said, telling the superiors that each person must try to discover “what the Lord has chosen for them” and must never avoid problems, but carry them with humility.

In 2016 Pope Francis signed an official papal decree where Catholic bishops and other senior officials neglecting investigation into child sexual abuse by priests would be sacked.

He also condemned sexual abuses of children committed by Catholic priests.

"Two of four people committing such abuses seem to have been subjected to such abuses themselves. They are disseminating abuses in the future – that is destructive. If priests or monks are involved in that, it is clear that we are speaking about the presence of devil… But let us speak directly – it is a disease. If we are not sure this is a disease, it will be impossible to solve the problem," Francis said.

He told the superiors to “never accept in a religious community or diocese a candidate that has been rejected by another seminar or another institute” without first asking “for very clear and detailed information on the reasons for their rejection.”