Following the depositions of Cardinal George Pell before the Royal Commission, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, released a statement regarding sexual abuse in the Church. Fr Lombardi’s statement The sensationalist presentation of these two events merits some reflection and discrimination. The international media are catching up with what has been happening and how the Church has responded in the past, albeit inadequately. Now, in Rome itself, immediate awareness and responses by high ranking Vatican officials has captured media attention. The Vatican Press Office highlights the Church’s responses under this papacy (Pope Francis) and the earlier papacy of Pope Benedict, who told, “there is filth in the Church and it has to be removed”.
