Pope Francis met with the Council of Cardinals at the Vatican from September 10 to 12. According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, “the Council reflected extensively together with the Holy Father on the theme of abuse.” The communiqué, released on September 12, announced an upcoming meeting with bishops on the abuse crisis in the Church.

“The Holy Father Francis, after hearing the Council of Cardinals, has decided to convene a meeting with the presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of the Catholic Church on the theme of the ‘protection of minors’. The meeting with the Pope will be held in the Vatican from 21 to 24 February 2019,” stated the bulletin.

This news comes just one day after the Holy See Press Office confirmed that Pope Francis would meet with representatives of the USCCB on Thursday. Greg Burke, Director of the Holy See Press Office, stated:

“Next Thursday, 13 September, the Holy Father will receive in the Apostolic Palace His Eminence Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, along with His Eminence Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. 

They will be accompanied by H.E. Msgr. José Horacio Gómez, archbishop of Los Angeles, vice presidente of the same Episcopal Conference; and Msgr. Brian Bransfield, general secretary. 

The audience will take place at midday”.

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