On the return flight from Lisbon (Portugal) to Rome (Italy) after participating in World Youth Day (WYD) 2023, Pope Francis spoke with journalists about various topics, including his state of health, his prayer to the Virgin Mary in Fatima and the drama of sexual abuse in the Church.
Below, we share the full text of Pope Francis’ press conference, transcribed and translated by Vatican News :
Matteo Bruni:
Good evening, Your Holiness. We return rejuvenated and happy from this WYD in which we have been able to confront ourselves with the questions and expectations of young people, regarding the Church, the faith, and also the world. And we have been able to hear his response in his words, in his presence. Now there are some questions from the journalists, but before you wanted to say a few words:
Pope Francisco:
Good evening and thank you very much for this experience, today is a birthday: (Bruni: from Rita CRUZ) Happy birthday! Then comes the cake!
Your Holiness, first of all, thank you for your visit to Portugal. Everyone already considers it a success. They are all very happy. Thanks for coming. I met a great police chief who told me that he had never seen such an obedient and peaceful crowd. He was beautiful.
My question is about Fatima. We know that you went there and she prayed silently in the little chapel. But there was great expectation, in the same place where Our Lady had made a request to pray for the end of the war (and we are at war right now, unfortunately) to have a renewal of the Holy Father, praying publicly for peace … The eyes of the whole world were fixed on you yesterday morning at Fatima. Why didn’t he?
Pope Francisco:
I prayed, I prayed I prayed to the Virgin and prayed for peace. I have not advertised. But I have prayed. And we must continually repeat this prayer for peace. She had asked for this in World War I. And this time (this) I have asked the Virgin. And I have prayed. I have not advertised.
Gonçalves Gomes João Francisco (The Observer):
Thank you very much, Holy Father. I’m going to speak in Spanish, I think it’s easier for me and, if you can answer in Spanish, the better, because it’s easier for the Portuguese to understand. I would like to ask you about the abuse of children in the Church, in Portugal. In February of this year, a report on the reality of abuses in Portugal was published. Almost 5,000 children have been victims in the last decades. I ask you: have you read, are you aware of this report that has been delivered to the bishops? And also, what do you think should happen with the bishops who have learned of cases of abuse and have not reported them to the authorities?
Pope Francisco:
As you know, in a very private way, I received a group of people who were abused. As I always do in these cases, we talk about this plague, this tremendous plague, right? In the Church, more or less the behavior that is currently followed in families and neighborhoods was followed: it is covered, right? He… To think that 42% of abuses, more or less, occur in families or neighborhoods. You still have to grow up and help those things to be discovered until the Boston scandal. And there the Church became aware that you could not go along random paths, but you had to take the bull by the horns. Two and a half years ago we had the meeting of the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences, official statistics on abuses were also given there. And it is serious, the situation is very serious. In the church, there is a phrase that we are using continuously: zero tolerance, zero tolerance. And the pastors who, in some way, did not take charge have to take charge of that irresponsibility, the way will be seen in each one of them. But the world of abuse is very hard. And in that, I urge that we be very open in all of this. About what you ask me about how the process is going in the Portuguese Church, it is going well. It goes well and with serenity, seriousness is sought in abused cases. The numbers, sometimes, end up being enlarged, a bit because of the comments that we always like, but what is the reality, it is getting along well and that gives me some peace of mind. the mode will be seen in each one of them. But the world of abuse is very hard. And in that, I urge that we be very open in all of this. About what you ask me about how the process is going in the Portuguese Church, it is going well. It goes well and with serenity, seriousness is sought in abused cases. The numbers, sometimes, end up being enlarged, a bit because of the comments that we always like, but what is the reality, it is getting along well and that gives me some peace of mind. the mode will be seen in each one of them. But the world of abuse is very hard. And in that, I urge that we be very open in all of this. About what you ask me about how the process is going in the Portuguese Church, it is going well. It goes well and with serenity, seriousness is sought in abused cases. The numbers, sometimes, end up being enlarged, a bit because of the comments that we always like, but what is the reality, it is getting along well and that gives me some peace of mind.
I would like to make a point, and you, as journalists, I ask you to collaborate on this. Today, do you have a telephone? Phone. Well, on any of these phones, by paying something and with a password, you have access to the sexual abuse of minors. This enters our homes and child sexual abuse is filmed live. Where is it filmed? Who are responsible? This is one of the most serious plagues, along with the whole world, but I want to underline this because, out there, it does not occur to us that things are so radical. When you use a child to put on a show of abuse, it draws attention. Abuse is like “eating” the victim, right? Or worse, hurt her and leave her alive. Talking to abused people is a very painful experience, which is also good for me, not because I like to listen, but because it helps me take charge of that drama. In other words, I would tell them, regarding your question, what I said: the process is going well, I am notified of how things are going. Out there the news enlarged it, but things are going well in terms of this. But also, with this, I tell you, in some way, help, help all types of abuse to be solved, sexual abuse, but it is not the only one. There are also other types of abuse that cry out to Heaven: child labor abuse, child labor abuse, and it is used; abuse in women, right? Even today, in many countries, the surgical operation of girls is used as a method: they remove the clitoris and that is today and it is done with a knife, and bye… Cruelty… And labor abuse, that is, within sexual abuse , which is serious and all this, there is a culture of abuse that humanity has to review and convert. Regarding your question, what I said: the process is going well, I am notified of how things are going. Out there the news enlarged it, but things are going well in terms of this. But also, with this, I tell you, in some way, help, help all types of abuse to be solved, sexual abuse, but it is not the only one. There are also other types of abuse that cry out to Heaven: child labor abuse, child labor abuse, and it is used; abuse in women, right? Still today, in many countries, the surgical operation of girls is used as a method: they remove the clitoris and that is today and it is done with a knife, and bye… Cruelty… And labor abuse, that is, within sexual abuse, which is serious and all this, there is a culture of abuse that humanity has to review and convert. Regarding your question, what I said: the process is going well, and I am notified of how things are going. Out there the news enlarged it, but things are going well in terms of this. But also, with this, I tell you, in some way, help, help all types of abuse to be solved, sexual abuse, but it is not the only one. There are also other types of abuse that cry out to Heaven: child labor abuse, child labor abuse, and it is used; abuse in women, right? Still today, in many countries, the surgical operation of girls is used as a method: they remove the clitoris and that is today and it is done with a knife, and bye… Cruelty… And labor abuse, that is, within sexual abuse , which is serious and all this, there is a culture of abuse that humanity has to review and convert. the process is going well, I am notified of how things are going. Out there the news enlarged it, but things are going well in terms of this. But also, with this, I tell you, in some way, help, help all types of abuse to be solved, sexual abuse, but it is not the only one. There are also other types of abuse that cry out to Heaven: child labor abuse, child labor abuse, and it is used; abuse in women, right? Still today, in many countries, the surgical operation of girls is used as a method: they remove the clitoris and that is today and it is done with a knife, and bye… Cruelty… And labor abuse, that is, within sexual abuse, which is serious and all this, there is a culture of abuse that humanity has to review and convert. the process is going well, I am notified of how things are going. Out there the news enlarged it, but things are going well in terms of this. But also, with this, I tell you, in some way, help, help all types of abuse to be solved, sexual abuse, but it is not the only one. There are also other types of abuse that cry out to Heaven: child labor abuse, child labor abuse, and it is used; abuse in women, right? Still today, in many countries, the surgical operation of girls is used as a method: they remove the clitoris and that is today and it is done with a knife, and bye… Cruelty… And labor abuse, that is, within sexual abuse, which is serious and all this, there is a culture of abuse that humanity has to review and convert. but things are going well in this regard. But also, with this, I tell you, in some way, help, help all types of abuse to be solved, sexual abuse, but it is not the only one. There are also other types of abuse that cry out to Heaven: child labor abuse, child labor abuse, and it is used; abuse in women, right? Even today, in many countries, the surgical operation of girls is used as a method: they remove the clitoris and that is today and it is done with a knife, and bye… Cruelty… And labor abuse, that is, within sexual abuse, which is serious and all this, there is a culture of abuse that humanity has to review and convert. but things are going well in this regard. But also, with this, I tell you, in some way, help, help all types of abuse to be solved, sexual abuse, but it is not the only one. There are also other types of abuse that cry out to Heaven: child labor abuse, child labor abuse, and it is used; abuse in women, right? Still today, in many countries, the surgical operation of girls is used as a method: they remove the clitoris and that is today and it is done with a knife, and bye… Cruelty… And labor abuse, that is, within sexual abuse, which is serious and all this, there is a culture of abuse that humanity has to review and convert. but he’s not the only one. There are also other types of abuse that cry out to Heaven: child labor abuse, child labor abuse, and it is used; abuse in women, right? Still today, in many countries, the surgical operation of girls is used as a method: they remove the clitoris and that is today and it is done with a knife, and bye… Cruelty… And labor abuse, that is, within sexual abuse, which is serious and all this, there is a culture of abuse that humanity has to review and convert. but he’s not the only one. There are also other types of abuse that cry out to Heaven: child labor abuse, child labor abuse, and it is used; abuse in women, right? Still today, in many countries, the surgical operation of girls is used as a method: they remove the clitoris and that is today and it is done with a knife, and bye… Cruelty… And labor abuse, that is, within sexual abuse, which is serious and all this, there is a culture of abuse that humanity has to review and convert.
Guénois Jean-Marie (Le Figaro):
Holy Father, how is your health, how is your convalescence going? He has not read or only the small parts of five speeches. There are no precedents in travel: why? Have you had vision problems, tiredness? Are texts too long? How does she feel? And if he allows me a little question about France. You come to Marseille, but you never visit France. The people don’t get it, maybe it’s too small or does it have something against France?
Pope Francisco:
My health is fine. The stitches were removed, I lead a normal life, I wear a bandage that I have to wear for two, three months to avoid a possible “eventration” (in medical language: exit of the abdominal viscera, ed.) until the muscles are stronger. The view. In that parish I cut off the speech because there was a light in front and I couldn’t read, the light was shining on me and that’s why I cut it off. Some, through Mateo, asked why I shortened the homilies that you have. When I speak, Not academic homilies, I try to make it as clear as possible. But I always look for communication when I speak. You have seen that even in academic homily I make some jokes, I make some smiles to control communication.
They saw that I was asking a question and immediately the echo told me where the question was going, whether it was wrong or not. Young people don’t have much attention span. Think that if you make a clear speech, with an idea, an image, an affection, eight minutes can follow you. Parenthetically, in the Evangeli Gaudium, the first exhortation I did, I did, I wrote a long chapter on the homily. Because there is a parish priest here (he is referring to Don Benito Giorgetta, parish priest of Termoli ed.), he knows that homilies are sometimes torture, torture, that they speak blah, blah, and people… In some town small, I don’t know if in Termoli, men go out to smoke a cigarette and come back. The Church must convert to this aspect of the homily: brief, clear, with a clear message, and affectionate. That’s why I check how it goes with the young people and I make them say. But I cut it short because… I need the idea with young people. And we went to France. I went to Strasbourg, I will go to Marseille, but not to France. It is a problem that worries me, which is the Mediterranean problem. That’s why I’m going to France. The exploitation of migrants is criminal. Not here in Europe, because it goes, we are more educated, but in the lagers of North Africa… I recommend reading. There is a small book written by an emigrant who took I think three years to come from Guinea to Spain because they captured him, tortured him, and enslaved him. The migrants in those lagers from the North: it’s terrible. At this time -last week- the Mediterranean association Saving Human was doing rescue work for migrants who were in the desert between Tunisia and Libya, because they had been left there to die. That book is called “Hermanito” -in Italian it has the subtitle “Fratellino”-, but it takes two hours to read, it’s worth it. Read it and you will see the drama of migrants before embarking. The Mediterranean bishops will hold this meeting, also with some politicians, to reflect seriously on the drama of migrants. The Mediterranean is a cemetery, but it is not the biggest cemetery. The largest burial ground is in North Africa. This is terrible, read it. I’m going to Marseille for this. Last week, President Macron told me that it is his intention to go to Marseille and I will be there for a day and a half: I will arrive in the afternoon and the next day I will be there all day. The Mediterranean bishops will hold this meeting, also with some politicians, to reflect seriously on the drama of migrants. The Mediterranean is a cemetery, but it is not the biggest cemetery. The largest burial ground is in North Africa. This is terrible, read it. I’m going to Marseille for this. Last week, President Macron told me that it is his intention to go to Marseille and I will be there for a day and a half: I will arrive in the afternoon and the next day I will be there all day. The Mediterranean bishops will hold this meeting, also with some politicians, to reflect seriously on the drama of migrants. The Mediterranean is a cemetery, but it is not the biggest cemetery. The largest burial ground is in North Africa. This is terrible, read it. I’m going to Marseille for this. Last week, President Macron told me that it is his intention to go to Marseille and I will be there for a day and a half: I will arrive in the afternoon and the next day I will be there all day.
Matteo Bruni:
He has nothing against France (repeating question).
Pope Francisco:
No. Not about that is a policy. I visit the small countries of Europe. The big countries, Spain, France, England, I leave for later, eventually. But as an option I started with Albania and so the little ones. It’s no big deal. France, two cities, Strasbourg and Marseille.
Hinterberger Emma Elisabeth (Ard Roma):
The Holy Father in Lisbon told us that in the Church there is room for everyone, for everyone. The Church is open to everyone, but at the same time not everyone has the same rights, and opportunities, in the sense that for example women, and homosexuals cannot receive all the sacraments. Holy Father, how do you explain this inconsistency between the open Church and the Church that is not the same for all? Thank you.
Pope Francisco:
You ask me a question about two different points of view, the Church is open to everyone, then there are laws that regulate life within the Church. The one who is inside is according to the legislation, what you say is a simplification: ‘he cannot do the sacraments’. This does not mean that the Church is closed, each one finds God on his way within the Church, and the Church is mother and guides each one on her way. That’s why I don’t like to say: they all come, but you, this one, but the other… Each one, each one in prayer, in interior dialogue, in pastoral dialogue, seeks the path to follow. That’s why asking a question: why not homosexuals… Everyone! And the Lord is clear: sick. Healthy, old and young, ugly and handsome… good and bad! There is a kind of perspective that does not understand this insertion of the Church as Mother and thinks of it as a kind of company that to enter you have to do this, do it this way and not that… Another thing is the ministry of the Church , which is the way to move the flock forward and one of the important things is patience, in ministry: accompanying people step by step on their way to maturity. Each one of us has this experience: that the Mother Church has accompanied us and accompanies us on our own path of maturation. I don’t like the reduction, this is not ecclesiastical, this is Gnostic. It’s like a Gnostic heresy that’s a bit fashionable today. A certain gnosticism that reduces the ecclesial reality and this does not help. The Church is Mother, she receives everyone, and each one makes his way within the Church, without advertising, and this is very important. Thank you for the courage to ask this question. Thank you.
Paolo Ruffini:
The Pope wants to share a thought about WYD.
Pope Francisco:
How I have lived WYD. This is the fourth that I live. The first was in Rio de Janeiro, there in Brazil. The second was in Krakow, the third in Panama. This is the fourth. This is the largest. According to the actual concrete data, there were more than one million participants. More. In fact, at the Watch it was estimated that there were one million four hundred and one million six hundred thousand.
The amount is impressive. Well prepared. Of the ones I’ve seen, this is the best prepared. Young people are a surprised. Young people are young. They do childish things, life is like that. But they try to move on. And they are the future. The matter (the purpose) is to accompany them. The problem is knowing how to accompany them. And that they do not detach from their roots. That is why I insist so much on the dialogue between the elderly and the young, grandparents with grandchildren. This dialogue is important, more important than the dialogue between parents and children. The grandparents, the roots.
The young are religious. They seek faith, not the artificial. They seek the encounter with Jesus. Some say that young people do not always live according to morality. But who among us has not made moral mistakes in his life? All. Also the commandments. Each of us has their own downfalls in their history. Life is so. But the Lord is always waiting for us because he is merciful and father and mercy goes beyond everything. This is what he wanted to say about WYD.
Justin Scott Clellan (CNS):
Speaking about WYD, these days we have heard testimonials from young people who have struggled with mental health, with depression. Have you ever fought for this? And if someone decides to commit suicide, what would you say to that person’s relatives who, due to Catholic teaching on suicide, suffer thinking that they have gone to hell?
Pope Francisco:
Youth suicide is important today, the number is important. Exist. The media does not say as much because it is not reported through the media. I stayed in dialogue with the young people -not in Confession- I took the opportunity to dialogue. A nice young man said to me: “Can I ask you a question? What do you think about suicide? He didn’t speak our language, but I understood him well and we started talking about suicide. And at the end he told me: “Thank you, because last year I was undecided about whether to do it or not.” So many young people are anxious, and depressed, but not only psychologically… Also, in some countries that are very, very demanding in university, young people who cannot get a degree or find a job commit suicide, because they feel too much shame. . I’m not saying it’s an everyday thing, but it’s a problem. It is a current problem. It is something that happens.
Matteo Bruni:
Thank you, Your Holiness, for the responses.
Pope Francisco:
Thanks to you for what you have done and my advice: do not forget “Hermanito”, “hermanito”, the migrant’s book. Thank you.
(Unofficial transcript from Vatican media)