Episcopal Conferences

Dear Confreres,

This weekend’s deliberations called by the Holy Father include representatives from all the Episcopal Conferences in the world to discuss and hopefully to find steps forward to address the plague of the abuse of children and vulnerable adults by Catholic clergy.

I earnestly ask every member of our Order to see it as an obligation to pray for guidance for our Holy Father and all the participants in this “Vatican Summit.”

The problem should be admitted and recognized throughout the Church Universal, justice must be a priority both in addressing the deep wounds of those victimized and in calling our Church leaders to greater accountability in the foreseeable future.

I ask for your prayers with great urgency.

Cardinal Edwin O'Brien

Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre