VATICAN CITY — A seemingly minor comment by Pope Francis during a 2018 visit to Chile spiraled into what became one of the most challenging crises of his papacy. This incident ultimately set the Catholic Church on a transformative journey towards addressing clergy sexual abuse more transparently.
During the visit, Pope Francis was questioned by a television reporter regarding a Chilean bishop implicated in covering up crimes by one of Chile’s most infamous pedophiles. Defensively, Francis had dismissed the allegations against the bishop, stating that there wasn’t “one shred of proof against him” and calling it “slander.” His spirited response hit a sensitive nerve in a Chile already grappling with the trauma of clergy abuse and drew public backlash. The Pope’s main adviser on child protection sternly criticized him for his remarks.
However, in a somewhat unprecedented move, Pope Francis ordered an investigation, acknowledged his misjudgment, offered an apology to the dismissed victims, and even requested the resignation of Chile’s entire bishopric. This marked a significant pivot in his papacy, showcasing his willingness to correct previous errors. “He admitted his mistakes,” noted papal biographer Austen Ivereigh. “He learned from them, apologized, and took corrective actions.”
Initially, there had been skepticism regarding Francis’s commitment to resolving abuse issues, especially since he had never dealt directly with such cases as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Nonetheless, he established a commission early on to advise on best practices, though its influence waned over time.
The situation in Chile became a statutory moment during a visit to Iquique, where the Pope supported Bishop Juan Barros, despite local opposition and allegations that Barros had shielded reviled priest Fernando Karadima and his misconduct. Francis had been steadfast in his defense of Barros, partially due to the backing of a close advisor, Cardinal Javier Errazuriz. However, pressure from journalists led to Francis initiating a thorough investigation, ultimately realizing he had been misinformed.
Juan Carlos Cruz, a victim of Karadima, who received a personal apology from the Pope, later formed a personal relationship with him. “He genuinely wanted to make things right,” Cruz shared.
Years after these tumultuous events, Pope Francis recognized 2018 as a pivotal year in his understanding of abuse issues. Recalling discussions with journalists, including a revealing interview in 2023, Francis explained that his perspective shifted dramatically as he learned of the pervasive corruption among many bishops.
By mid-2018, Francis had largely addressed the Chilean scandal, but another crisis soon arose involving Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in the U.S., who had a notorious history of misconduct. McCarrick faced a canonical trial after credible allegations emerged, yet Francis’s efforts to rectify past wrongs were overshadowed by accusations of a cover-up. A former U.S. Vatican ambassador accused Francis of overlooking warnings about McCarrick. This led to a comprehensive investigation which, while highlighting broader negligence among church officials, spared Francis from direct responsibility.
In response to these ongoing challenges, Francis intensified efforts to hold church hierarchies accountable, organizing global bishops’ meetings at the Vatican in 2019 to emphasize the imperative of addressing abuse and penalizing offenders. Changes in church law were enacted to foster transparency and accountability.
Despite these efforts, cases such as that of Argentine Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, convicted of abuse after being transferred to a Vatican position, and unresolved inquiries about the Rev. Julio Grassi, remained troublesome for Francis. Advocacy groups like Bishop Accountability insisted that Francis needed to take further action and fully acknowledge past oversights to foster comprehensive redress for abuse victims.