Pope Francis Tells Bishops: You Are Duty-Bound To Eradicate Sex Abuse Of Children And Cover-Ups

Never let fear of scandal cover the truth about child abuse within the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis recently issued this emphatic reminder to bishops worldwide, saying they have the duty to stamp out sexual abuse of children and its cover-up.

Francis demanded a "close and complete" cooperation from the heads of national bishops' conferences and religious orders with a new child protection watchdog he recently established in the Vatican.

"Families need to know that the Church is making every effort to protect their children," the leader of the 1.2-billion-strong Roman Catholic Church said.

"Consequently, priority must not be given to any other kind of concern, whatever its nature, such as the desire to avoid scandal, since there is absolutely no place in ministry for those who abuse minors," the Pope said in a letter addressed to Catholic clergy leaders worldwide.

He wrote the letter a month after 10 priests and two Catholic lay workers in Granada, Spain, were charged with sexual abuse of altar boys in 2004 and 2007.

The latest papal action came as the new Church child protection panel prepared to meet for the first time in Rome on Friday.

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors was given a brief to drive reform on the issue that has long plagued Church's authority and reputation around the world.

Headed by American Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the commission includes clerics and lay people, including two victims of pedophile priests, Ireland's Marie Collins and Peter Sanders from Britain.

In his letter, the 78-year-old Argentinian Pontiff also reminded bishops that the safety of minors and vulnerable adults in their dioceses is their responsibility.

They had to ensure Vatican instructions on how to handle sexual abuse cases are implemented, and procedures put in place to ensure future compliance, the Pope said.

"Pastors and those in charge of religious communities should be available to meet with victims and their loved ones. Such meetings are valuable opportunities for listening to those who have greatly suffered and for asking their forgiveness," the Pontiff wrote.