We publish below the text of the Holy Father’s Video with the prayer intention for the month of March spread through the Pope’s World Prayer Network on the theme “For the victims of abuse”: Let us pray for all those who suffer because of the evil received from members of the ecclesial community: that they may find in the Church itself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.

Text of the Holy Father’s Video

MARCH: FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE

Francis

In response to cases of abuse, especially to those committed by members of the Church, it’s not enough to ask for forgiveness.

Asking for forgiveness is necessary, but it is not enough. Asking for forgiveness is good for the victims, but they are the ones who have to be “at the center” of everything.

Their pain and their psychological wounds can begin to heal if they find answers —if there are concrete actions to repair the horrors they have suffered and to prevent them from happening again.

The Church cannot try to hide the tragedy of abuse of any kind. Nor when the abuse takes place in families, in clubs, or in other types of institutions.

The Church must serve as a model to help solve the issue and bring it to light in society and in families.

The Church must offer safe spaces for victims to be heard, supported psychologically, and protected.

Let us pray for those who have suffered because of the wrongs done to them from members of the Church; may they find within the Church herself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.