Pope Francis: one priest in 50 is a paedophile
Italian journalist says Pope Francis admitted that two per cent of clerics are paedophiles
Pope Francis has said that one in 50 Roman Catholic clerics is a paedophile, according to an Italian journalist.
The claim was published in a report of an hour-long conversation between the Pope and the co-founder of the left-leaning Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Eugenio Scalfari. In the course of the conversation Pope Francis said that he considered the crime "a leprosy in our house".
"Many of my collaborators who fight with me [against paedophilia] reassure me with reliable statistics that say that the level of paedophilia in the Church is at about two per cent," Pope Francis was quoted as saying.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"This data should hearten me but I have to tell you that it does not hearten me at all. In fact, I think that it is very grave," he said.
The Pope promised to confront the problem "with the severity it demands".
If the statistics are correct, the figure cited by the Pope would represent around 8,000 of the world's 414,000 priests, the BBC notes.According to La Repubblica, the Pope admitted that some bishops and cardinals were sexual abusers.
"Among the two per cent who are paedophiles are priests, bishops and cardinals," he reportedly said. "Others, more numerous, know but keep quiet. They punish without giving the reason."
The Catholic Church did not dispute the majority of the article, but Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi denied that Pope Francis had said that there were cardinals who were paedophiles. He also said that the report did not represent the Pope's exact words.
Earlier this month Pope Francis asked victims of child sex abuse for forgiveness at a morning mass in the Vatican. "Before God and his people, I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness," he said.
In March the Pope claimed that no other organisation in the world had "done more" to tackle the problem of child abuse.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Modi opens contentious Ram temple at one of India's 'most vexed religious sites'
Talking Point Indian PM kicks off re-election campaign by affirming Hindu nationalism, while Muslim minority feel pain of history and threat of future
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The potential consequences of Pope Francis' call for a ban on surrogacy
Talking Point Francis called the practice 'despicable' and a 'commercialization' of pregnancy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Vatican's same-sex blessing approval: What is Pope Francis doing?
Today's Big Question The pope rocked the Catholic world by giving the green light to blessing same-sex couples, with plenty of caveats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Vatican half-embraces transgender Catholic godparents, wedding witnesses
Under the Radar Pope Francis signed off on a series of clarifications about the roles LGBTQ Catholics can play in the church, with ample theological fine print
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Pope, the ‘false prophet’, and the battle for Argentina
feature Opinion has been split on whether the pontiff's intervention into politics in his home nation is appropriate
By Rebekah Evans Published
-
Rebellious nuns ban Texas bishop from monastery in chastity row
Speed Read Wheelchair-using Mother Prioress has been accused of ‘sexting’
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Pope Francis investigates Texas bishop, accepts early resignation of embattled Tennessee prelate
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
QR codes could reveal sex-offending French priests
Speed Read Move by Catholic Church denounced as a ‘publicity stunt’ by sexual abuse survivors’ group
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published