After Dublin, where does Rome stand on the family?
Not one but two World Meetings of Families took place in Dublin from 22 to 26 August. One was the official event that ran according to the planned programme centred on religious and cultural activities; the other was dictated by the vast echo of the scandals related to sexual abuses committed by Catholic priests and the unexpected controversy caused by former nuncio Carlo Maria Viganò, who accused vast sectors of the Roman Curia of covering them up, and invoking Francis’ resignation due to his inability to properly deal with the abuses. It is fair to say that the second meeting caught the attention of the public opinion much more than the first.
Mixed outcomes
After Dublin, during the General Audience given in St Peter’s square on 29 August, Pope Francis soberly acknowledged the fact. After recalling the different moments that had punctuated the meeting (i.e. encounters and exchanges with different people, masses celebrated, Marian prayers at Knock Shrine) he readily admitted: ‘Sadly, the joy of my visit was clouded by the recognition of the suffering caused by the abuse of minors and young people by some members of the Church. I begged forgiveness for these crimes and encouraged the efforts made to ensure that they are not repeated’.
