VATICAN CITY -The Holy See press office released a statement on behalf of Pope Francis Tuesday regarding child sex abuse in the Church of France, after reading a report on the matter from French bishops that he met recently during his ad limina visits. The document reports that some 216,000 children - mostly boys - were sexually abused by clergy in the French Catholic Church since 1950.

 “First of all, his thoughts go out to the victims - immense sorrow for their wounds, and gratitude for their courage in denouncing the perpetrators. He also prays for the Church of France so that, in the awareness of this terrible reality and united with the suffering of the Lord for his more vulnerable children, it may embark on a path of redemption.”

 “With his prayer, the Pope entrusts the people of God in France to the Lord, especially the victims, so that he may give them comfort and consolation and with justice the miracle of healing may come.”

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