Pope meets victims of clerical sexual abuse in Portugal

Pope Francis has held a private meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse during a five-day visit to Portugal.

In a statement, the Vatican said the gathering had been held on Wednesday in an "atmosphere of intense listening".

A report this year concluded that at least 4,815 children had been abused in Portugal and that the Church had sought "systematically" to conceal the issue.

At an evening service in Lisbon, the Pope said the Church must listen to "the anguished cry of the victims". read more