Pope: Church must eradicate situations that protect abusers

By Devin Watkins

“Humanizing relationships in any society, including in the Church, means working tirelessly to form mature and coherent individuals who, firm in their faith and ethical principles, are capable of confronting evil, bearing witness to the truth in capitals. »

Pope Francis proposed this consideration Tuesday in a message sent to participants of the 3rd Latin American Congress, which will be held in Panama from March 12 to 14.

Promoted by the Center for the Protection of Minors (CEPROME), the event brought together representatives of the Church from across the region to reflect on the theme: “Vulnerability and abuse: towards a broader vision of prevention”.

Eradicate the scourge of abuse

In his message, the Pope entrusted to the Lord the Church's efforts to eradicate “the scourge of abuse in all areas of society.”

He recalled his audience at the Vatican with the members of CEPROME on September 25, 2023. He underlined on the occasion the Church's commitment to discovering “the suffering face of Jesus in each of the victims”.

Pope Francis also encouraged attendees to pray for the conversion of all sinners, including abusers, while working to prevent all forms of abuse.

Understanding vulnerability

Looking at the issue through God's eyes, he added, can help us better understand our own vulnerability.

“Seeing our own weakness as an excuse to stop being whole people and complete Christians, incapable of taking control of their destiny, will create childish and resentful people,” he said, “ and in no way represents the smallness to which Jesus invites us. »

On the contrary, Pope Francis said, Christians are called to find strength in their weaknesses while trusting in God's grace (cf. 2 Cor 12:8-10).

By finding our strength and trust in God, he noted, “we will be able to confront the contradictions of life and contribute to the common good in the vocation to which we have been called.”

Eliminate situations that protect abusers

Pope Francis then called on the Church to eliminate structures that protect people who mistreat others.

“In terms of prevention,” he declared, “our efforts must undoubtedly aim to eradicate the situations which protect those who hide behind their position to impose themselves on others in a perverse way, but also to understand why they are incapable to have relationships with others in perverse conditions. a healthy way.

The Pope noted that any society not founded on the premises of moral integrity “will be a sick society,” whose relationships will ultimately be perverted by selfishness, fear and deception.

Pope Francis concluded his message to the 3rd Latin American Congress by inviting participants to entrust their “weakness to the strength that the Lord gives us.”