Pope Francis seeks to "deflate" expectations for Vatican summit on sexual abuse
/ CBS News
On board the Papal plane — Pope Francis has warned that expectations for an upcoming landmark Vatican summit on clergy sexual abuse should be "deflated," as the problem of abuse is unlikely to be resolved through it. The pontiff's move to lower expectations may disappoint some Catholics, particularly in the U.S. where the last year has seen a string of revelations about senior church leaders covering up abuse.
CBS News correspondent Seth Doane was on Pope Francis' overnight flight from Panama back to Rome, during which Francis held a news conference for reporters in the cabin before heading back to the front of the plane, leaving journalists to translate and digest what he'd said.
He laid out three goals for the February 21-24 Vatican summit, and said the focus should remain squarely on them. Francis said he hoped to make church leaders across the globe understand the pain sexual abuse inflicts upon victims, teach them how to properly investigate reported cases, and develop protocols for the entire church hierarchy to use in any alleged instance of abuse.
"Let me say that I've sensed somewhat inflated expectations," he told the journalists. "We have to deflate the expectations to these three points, because the problem of abuse will continue. It's a human problem."
He said the first step is simply to be aware of the problem – and noted that in some cases, bishops still don't know what to do when they encounter abuse.
Doane said journalists on the papal flight were not allowed to ask Francis follow-up questions, but one of the natural ones would be how some bishops can still be unclear about, "what should be done?" If it is true that such confusion still exists, can that not be considered a grave failure of the church?
The pope also re-affirmed the official church position on several issues. He spoke against abortion, but referred to difficult conversations he'd had in the confessional and acknowledged the emotional pain of women who elect to have the procedure.
He was very strong on reaffirming his belief in celibacy for priests, but he also acknowledged the debate as to whether elder, married men could be ordained in some very rare situations, particularly in remote places where there was simply a shortage of available clergy.
On the crisis in Venezuela, where the Speaker of the National Assembly has launched a bid — backed by the U.S. and a raft of other nations — to take over the presidency from current President Nicolas Maduro, Pope Francis didn't publicly take sides. He did express his solidarity with those suffering through the crisis, which has left about 15 people dead in recent weeks, and said he was "terrified of a bloodbath" if a political solution isn't reached.
First published on January 28, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Wild road rage incident caught on camera
The man on the hood is grateful a fellow driver with a gun finally helped stop the SUV
updated 7M ago 
School district accused of deeming student's swastika "artistic"
Michigan school district was previously criticized for its use of Redskin name, image as mascot
updated 13M ago 
Chris Christie: FBI's gun-toting raid on Roger Stone's home was "overkill"
While he says the Russian investigation not a "witch hunt," former N.J. governor faults tactics used in arrest of Trump adviser and confidante
updated 56M ago 
5 divorce mistakes that can cost you
Doing — or even just saying — the wrong thing as you head into a split can have nasty financial consequences
1H ago 
Recession in 2019? Here's what economists are predicting
A survey of business economists say President Trump's tax cuts have done little to impact their business plans
1H ago 
Medicaid expansion supporters to rally as Utah Legislature opens
State leaders have said they plan to implement Medicaid expansion, but want to make changes to control costs
updated 2M ago 
IRS returns to work with 5 million pieces of unopened mail waiting
It could take the IRS at least a year to get back to normal, now that parts of the government have reopened
updated 6M ago 
Washington baker apologizes for "Build that Wall" cookie
A Washington state baker apologized for a politically charged Valentine's Day cookie
updated 24M ago 
Trump slams Fox News over border security coverage
The less-than-complimentary tweet comes after the president cast doubt that a deal could be reached over border security
2H ago 
Monuments and memorials to reopen in D.C. after historic shutdown
National parks and memorials are reopening across the country after a 35-day shutdown of the federal government
2H ago 
Pope seeks to "deflate" church sex abuse summit expectations
On his flight home from Panama, the pontiff cautioned against expecting too much from the summit on what he calls a "human problem"
updated 9M ago 
Deadly tornado tears through Cuba's capital city
President says at least 3 killed and 174 injured as powerful storm wreaks havoc in Havana neighborhoods
1H ago 
U.S. and Taliban "draft" a deal with Afghan leader on sidelines
Top American envoy confirms "draft of a framework" reached with militants, as Afghan president urges "serious talks" involving his government
2H ago 
Death toll in Brazil dam disaster nears 60, hundreds missing
As many as 300 people may still be unaccounted for after a mining dam failed, unleashing a wall of mud on surrounding communities
5H ago 
U.S. lifts sanctions on 3 companies tied to major Russian oligarch
Oleg Deripaska has ties to Vladimir Putin and was linked to Paul Manafort; Congress nearly blocked the move
5H ago 
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga sing "Shallow" in surprise performance
"So, I'm gonna be a little chance-y … Yo Bradley, you wanna come up and do this one?" Gaga asked during her "Enigma" performance Saturday night at Park MGM resort
updated 2M ago 
XXXTentacion's son born 7 months after rapper's death in Florida
Rapper's girlfriend Jenesis Sanchez gave birth Saturday to baby boy Gekyume Onfroy
13H ago 
Meet the "Sunday Morning" Sun Queen
For 20 years associate director Jessica Frank has been handpicking every shining example of sun artwork to appear on our program – about 9,000 and counting
Jan 27 
Conor Oberst, Phoebe Bridgers on keeping collaboration under wraps
"I just didn't want anybody to hear that we had a project, and know both our music and make an assumption about what it sounded like"
Jan 26 
Michael Jackson accusers' film gets standing ovation and rebuke from estate
Jackson's estate sharply denounced the film, calling it "the kind of tabloid character assassination Michael Jackson endured in life, and now in death"
Jan 26 
Meet the man behind a third of what's on Wikipedia
Steven Pruitt has made nearly 3 million edits on Wikipedia and written 35,000 original articles — all for free
16H ago 
Amazon facial technology shows bias, researchers say
Facial-detection technology that Amazon markets to law enforcement often misidentifies women, particularly those with darker skin, according to new research
Jan 25 
Endangered lemurs could help humans fight disease
Madagascar's lemurs could hold the key to solving human diseases like Alzheimer's and diabetes, but they're at risk of being wiped out
Jan 25 
"We've entered a new era" of climate concern, survey finds
A new survey shows Americans are more convinced than ever about the impact of climate change
Jan 25 
11,000 at Microsoft trapped in "reply all" loop
Social-media posts by employees describe some of the hazards — and horrors — that can come from hitting "reply all"
Jan 25 
Their twins’ medical costs top $1 million. Can GoFundMe help?
Some 250,000 GoFundMe campaigns have been set up to raise money for people facing steep health care costs
1H ago 
State of emergency declared over Washington measles outbreak
Gov. Jay Insless said the outbreak "creates an extreme public health risk"
Jan 26 
Doctor's license suspended amid review of overdoses, deaths
Doctor accused of ordering excessive and possibly fatal pain medicine for dozens of hospital patients without their families' knowledge
Jan 26 
Father who lost son to addiction seeks justice from drug makers
Members of the Sackler family are accused of marketing the drug, even though they knew how addictive it can be
Jan 25 
Salmonella outbreak linked to pet hedgehogs
These prickly little mammals are increasingly popular as pets, but don't kiss or snuggle them, health officials warn
Jan 25 
Trump's rollbacks of fossil fuel regulations may carry steep costs
The administration's environmental rule changes could cause more premature deaths and climate-warming emissions
updated 49M ago
5 divorce mistakes that can cost you
Doing — or even just saying — the wrong thing as you head into a split can have nasty financial consequences
1H ago 
In Paris, "red scarves" rally to counter yellow vests
10,000 marched in the city to protest the sometimes violent anti-government demonstrations
1H ago 
Moving company accused of holding customers' belongings hostage
Florida attorney general has filed suit against companies that use deceptive practices, hold customers' belongings hostage
2H ago
Their twins’ medical costs top $1 million. Can GoFundMe help?
Some 250,000 GoFundMe campaigns have been set up to raise money for people facing steep health care costs
1H ago
Wild road rage incident caught on camera
The man on the hood is grateful a fellow driver with a gun finally helped stop the SUV
updated 7M ago
Moving company accused of holding customers' belongings hostage
Florida attorney general has filed suit against companies that use deceptive practices, hold customers' belongings hostage
2H ago 
Man wanted in slaying of 4 in Georgia arrested in Indiana
Authorities say Daylon Delon Gamble targeted his victims but they don't know his motive
4H ago 
Roger Stone leaves door open to cooperation with special counsel
"That is something I will determine with my attorneys," Stone told CBS News
12H ago 
Man suspected of killing 5, including parents, arrested
Authorities say Theriot first shot and killed three people — the woman believed to be his girlfriend, her brother and father — before allegedly killing his parents
15H ago
