Irish abuse survivors to meet with Pope

Abuse survivor Marie Collins has hailed Pope Francis’ decision to meet with abuse survivors in Rome next week.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week following the Pope’s announcement – during his flight from the Holy Land – that he would welcome a delegation of victims from Ireland, England and Germany
to the Vatican, Mrs Collins said: “It’s great that
he’s meeting survivors and shows that
things are moving forward.”

Offering her personal assessment of new moves by Pope Francis to deal effectively with the legacy of clerical sexual abuse, Mrs Collins said “it’s a very hopeful time” and said the Pope’s own phrase, ‘zero tolerance’ in speaking on the issue was “very positive and very important”.

In March, Mrs Collins was appointed by Pope Francis as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors, the body he created to ensure that the Church stays true to its child safeguarding commitments.

The council held its first meeting in Rome in May to plan its actions in this regard, and Mrs Collins met the Pope at that time. Afterwards she spoke of the sense of “real change” in the Church’s approach to safeguarding.