VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis on Friday urged Vatican disciplinarians to act "with determination" against sexual abuse committed by members of the Catholic clergy, the Holy See said in a statement, the pope's first public pronouncement on the issue.
"The Holy Father in particular asked that the congregation ... act with determination in cases of sexual abuse," the Vatican said, referring to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles such cases, after the pope met with its director.