Victims of sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy have demanded to meet Pope Francis personally to press demands that bishops who covered up such offences be dismissed from the priesthood. All the survivors of abuse expressed disappointment that the pope did not come to the meeting, even though he was not scheduled to be there. Other abuse victims waited outside the building where the meeting took place. Victims who meet Francis and address the four-day conference will remain anonymous at their request. Also on Wednesday, Pope Francis said people who spent their lives denouncing the Catholic Church were friends of the devil.

Source: The Irish Times February 20, 2019 17:15 UTC