In a press conference on Monday, the Holy Father said that he plans to celebrate Mass with the survivors in Rome next month, while declaring 'zero tolerance' for any member of the clergy who abused a child.
CEO of the Catholic Church's Truth Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, has welcome the announcement, saying that meeting directly with survivors is the best way to get a true understanding of the devastation caused by child sexual assault crimes.
"This meeting sends yet another very clear message that sexual abuse within the Church is at the very forefront of the Pope's thinking," he said.
"Working with his new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Pope is taking real action to address the horror of clerical sexual abuse."
According to reports, survivors from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Ireland will take part in the meeting in the Domus Santa Marta, the hotel on Vatican grounds where the Pope lives.
