Pope Francis' trip to Chile and Peru, originally aimed at highlighting the plight of indigenous peoples and the delicate Amazon ecosystem, is being overshadowed by the Catholic Church's dismal record confronting priestly sex abuse in Chile and political turmoil in Peru. In Peru, Francis had hoped to highlight the need to protect the vast Amazon and its native peoples. In Peru, Francis will also visit Trujillo and the northern areas hard hit by floods and mudslides last March in the worst environmental calamity to strike Peru in nearly two decades. ———CHILE'S SEX ABUSE SCANDALChile's church has yet to recover its credibility following the scandal over the Rev. But if he utters the word "corruption" in Peru, it will have particular significance.

Source: ABC News January 12, 2018 21:45 UTC