What to Know
- The Vatican says Pope Francis will meet Thursday with the head of the U.S. bishops conference and other top U.S. church officials.
- The meeting in the Apostolic Palace will include Boston's Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Francis' top sex abuse advisor.
- O'Malley has been in Rome all week attending various meetings.
The Vatican says Pope Francis will meet Thursday with the head of the U.S. bishops conference and other top U.S. church officials, including Boston's Cardinal Sean O'Malley, over the sex abuse and cover-up scandal roiling the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has said he wants Francis to authorize a full-fledged Vatican investigation into the scandal of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was removed as cardinal in July after a credible accusation he groped a teenager.
DiNardo has also said recent claims of a cover-up of McCarrick's misconduct — including against top Vatican officials and the pope himself — deserve answers.
Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said DiNardo would meet with Francis on Thursday in the Apostolic Palace.
In addition to O'Malley, Francis' top sex abuse advisor, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez and Monsignor Brian Bransfield will also be attending the meeting.
O'Malley has been in Rome all week attending various meetings.
