ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM PANAMA — The primary goal of the
Vatican's February summit on clerical sexual abuse and child protection is to
help the world's bishops understand the urgency of the crisis, Pope Francis said.
During a news conference with journalists Jan. 27 on his flight
to Rome from Panama, the pope said the presidents of the world's bishops'
conferences have been called to the Feb. 21-24 meeting at the Vatican to be
"made aware of the tragedy" of those abused by members of the clergy.
"I regularly meet with people who have been abused. I remember
one person — 40 years old — who was unable to pray," he said. "It is
terrible, the suffering is terrible. So first, they (the bishops) need to be
made aware of this."
The pope's international Council of Cardinals suggested the
summit after realizing that some bishops did not know how to address or handle
the crisis on their own, he said.
"We felt the responsibility of giving a 'catechesis' on this
problem to the bishops' conferences," he said. "That is why we
convoked the presidents" of the conferences, the heads of the Eastern
Catholic churches and representatives of the leadership groups of men's and
women's religious orders.
The meeting, he said, will address "in a clear way"
what protocols bishops need to follow when handling sexual abuse.
Asked about the expectations for the meeting, especially the
expectations of Catholics who have grown frustrated with the repeated reports
of abuse and cover-up by some bishops, the pope said people need to realize
"the problem of abuse will continue."
"It is a human problem, a human problem (that is)
everywhere," he said.
But if the church becomes more aware of the tragedy of sexual
abuse, the pope said, it can help others face the crisis of abuse, especially
in families "where shame leads to covering up everything."
Speaking with journalists for nearly an hour, the pope was asked
whether he would consider a general acceptance of married men into the
Latin-rite priesthood in a way similar to the practice of the Eastern Catholic
churches.
"In the Eastern rite, they can do it. They make the choice
between celibacy or marriage before they're ordained into the diaconate,"
he explained. "When it comes to the Latin rite, a phrase said by St. Paul
VI comes to mind: 'I would rather give my life than change the law on celibacy.'"
The pope said he personally believes that "celibacy is gift
to the church" and that while the prospect of married priests could one
day be considered in remote areas that lack priests, he did not agree
"with allowing optional celibacy."
"My decision is: no optional celibacy," the pope said.
"I will not do this. I don't feel like I could stand before God with this
decision."
Pope Francis also was asked about his response to the political
crisis in Venezuela as well as the Vatican's seemingly neutral stance despite
widespread belief that the election giving a second term to President Nicolas
Maduro was rigged.
Earlier in the day, while visiting a Catholic-run hospice in
Panama, the pope prayed for the people of Venezuela and expressed his hope that
a "just and peaceful solution may be sought and achieved to overcome the
crisis."
Although the United States and several European countries have
recognized National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate
head of state, the Vatican has not.
Pope Francis told journalists that while he fully supports the
suffering people of Venezuela, picking a side in the crisis "would be
pastoral imprudence on my part and would cause damage."
"That is why I had to be — I don't like the word 'balanced' —
I must be a shepherd to all and if they need help, then they must come to an
agreement and ask for it," he said.
The pope said that he thought carefully about his words to the
people of the country because "I suffer for what is happening in Venezuela
in this moment."
"What is it that scares me? Bloodshed," the pope said.
"And that is why I ask for generosity from those who can help resolve the
problem."