Pope issues �extraordinary� apology over scandals

AFP, VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Wednesday offered a surprise public apology from the Catholic Church for a series of scandals which have shaken the city of Rome and the Vatican.
The Vatican has been the focus of several controversies including the coming out of a gay priest and the leak of a controversial letter, while the pontiff himself ended up in the headlines for a gaffe which helped oust Rome’s mayor.
“I want, in the name of the Church, to ask forgiveness for the scandals which have recently hit Rome and the Vatican. I ask you for forgiveness,” Francis said at the start of his weekly general audience on Saint Peter’s Square.
“It is inevitable that scandals happen, but ‘woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!’” he said, quoting a passage from the Bible.
Vatican expert Joshua McElwee writing in the National Catholic Reporter described it as an “extraordinary step”.

Pope issues �extraordinary� apology over scandals

AFP, VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Wednesday offered a surprise public apology from the Catholic Church for a series of scandals which have shaken the city of Rome and the Vatican. The Vatican has been the focus of several controversies including the coming out of a gay priest and the leak of a controversial letter, while the pontiff himself ended up in the headlines for a gaffe which helped oust Romes mayor. I want, in the name of the Church, to ask forgiveness for the scandals which have recently hit Rome and the Vatican. I ask you for forgiveness, Francis said at the start of his weekly general audience on Saint Peters Square. It is inevitable that scandals happen, but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! he said, quoting a passage from the Bible. Vatican expert Joshua McElwee writing in the National Catholic Reporter described it as an extraordinary step.