Francis focused for the second time today during his visit to Chile on the abuse scandal that has rocked the Chilean church. “I know the pain resulting from cases of abuse of minors, and I am attentive to what you are doing to respond to this great and painful evil,” he said.

“It is right to ask for forgiveness,” the pope said, “and make every effort to support the victims.”

“We are at the limit,” the pope said on the flight from Rome to Chile. “An accident is sufficient.”

The issues that most concern the Chileans coincide with many of the messages of the pope, for example, the problem of the indigenous community, the problems of migrant people, care for the environment.

Pope Francis will set out on his 22nd foreign trip on Jan. 15.

The Vatican said Francis had followed the saga of the Sodalitium of Christian Life for years and was “particularly concerned about the seriousness of information about the internal regime, the training and financial management.”

Pope Francis has long recognized that the reform of the Roman Curia, which he began in 2013, is a difficult task.

25,000 children and pilgrim sang the pope “Happy Birthday" today in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis will renew the mandate of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors for another three years, informed sources told America this week.

Sources in the Vatican say they cannot understand how President Trump’s decision to recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel can be in the best interests of the United States.