Cardinal DiNardo Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston struck a determinedly hopeful tone after his long-awaited meeting with Pope Francis to discuss the growing sexual abuse crisis in the US.
“I myself am filled with hope,” he said, “but I also realise all these things might take purpose and time.”
The cardinal spoke following a noon meeting last week at the Vatican. Cardinal DiNardo, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), was joined in his meeting with the Pope by vice president of the USCCB Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, general secretary Msgr J. Brian Bransfield and Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
“The Holy Father is the important figure for us in this,” Cardinal DiNardo said. “He sees the problem all over the Church and throughout the world.”
While the cardinal did not want to discuss the specifics of the private meeting beyond a statement released by the US bishops, he did describe the encounter as “very, very fruitful”.
“It was lengthy, and we shared a lot of thoughts and ideas together,” the cardinal said, “so I found the meeting very good from that point of view.”
“The Pope is well informed,” the cardinal said, “and he’s also very, very attentive to what has happened to abuse victims in the Church in the US.”