Pope Francis told newly ordained bishops Saturday that they must reject all forms of abuse and work in communion to fight the clerical culture that has fuelled the sex abuse and cover-up scandal rocking his papacy.
Francis cited his recent letter about combatting abuse during an audience with 74 new bishops from 34 countries in the developing world. The bishops are in Rome this week to learn how to lead their dioceses.
Their seminar has come during a moment of crisis for Francis, accused by a lone archbishop of having covered up for a disgraced ex-cardinal, who in turn has been accused of sexually molesting children as well as adult seminarians.
Francis has ignored calls from clergy and ordinary faithful to respond directly to the claims, saying there are times when "silence and prayer" are the best response.
Francis did however speak generally about the abuse crisis to the new bishops, many of whom hail from dioceses where the clerical sex abuse scandal hasn't erupted publicly in the same way that it has in the Anglo-Saxon world, Europe, and parts of Latin America.
"Just say no to abuse of power, conscience or any type," Francis said, adding that to do so they must reject the clerical culture that often places clergy on a pedestal and which Francis himself has blamed for fuelling the scandal.
Francis also told the new bishops they are there to serve their flocks, and must work in communion with the church, not as lone actors.
"The bishop can't have all the gifts the complete set of charisms even though some think they do, poor things," Francis said.
The church, he said, needs unity of bishops "not lone actors working outside the chorus, conducting their own personal battles."