Pope Accepts Resignation Of 3 Chilean Bishops In Sex Abuse Scandal

Vatican City: Pope Francis accepted today the resignation of three Chilean bishops including the controversial Juan Barros following a child sex abuse scandal in Chile which has come to haunt his papacy.

The entire Chilean delegation of bishops tendered its resignation to the pope last month after a series of meetings at the Vatican.

Several members of the Chilean church hierarchy are accused by victims of ignoring and covering up child abuse by Chilean paedophile priest Fernando Karadima during the 1980s and 1990s.

Argentine-born Francis, whose decision was announced in a Vatican statement today, has said it must not happen again on his watch.

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But the pontiff himself became mired in the scandal when, during a trip to Chile in January, he defended Barros who was accused of covering up Karadima's wrongdoing.

Francis apologised to the victims and admitted he had made "grave mistakes" after reading a 2,300-page report on abuses in Chile.

He has since received two groups of Karadima's victims at the Vatican.

Since 2000, about 80 Roman Catholic priests have been reported to authorities in Chile for alleged sexual abuse. (AFP)