Pope promises moves against sexual abuse but victims disappointed

Pope Francis is seen during the last day of the four-day meeting on the global sexual abuse crisis, at the Vatican, February 24, 2019. [Reuters]

Pope Francis, ending a landmark conference on sexual abuse of minors by clergy, called on Sunday for an “all-out battle” against a crime he called abominable and that should be “erased from the face of the earth”.

At the end of a Mass in the frescoed Sala Regia of Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, he promised that guidelines used by national bishops conferences to prevent abuse and punish perpetrators will be reviewed and strengthened.