Pope expresses regret for child abuse Chile

santiago - On his visit to Chile, Pope Francis regretted the sexual abuse of children by priests in the South American country on Tuesday.

In 2015, Franciscus appointed bishop Juan Barros in the southern diocese of Osorno. The appointment led to much fuss, because Barros would have known that his former mentor, the priest Fernando Karadima, had sexually abused underage boys for years. In 2011 the Vatican condemned Karadima for this.

Francis said during his first official speech that he felt obliged to express his 'pain and shame about the irreparable damage that some representatives of the church have inflicted on children. 'The Pope made his statements in the presence of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and other dignitaries.