Pope expresses 'pain and shame' over clergy abuse as Chileans protest papal visit

In the rest of his speech at the palace, Francis referred to Chile's recent economic boom -- it is now considered by several indices as the most competitive economy across Latin America -- and said the people of the country have a "great and exciting challenge" to make their nation "a true place of encounter for all."

The pontiff also referenced the "growth of democracy" in Chile following the 1973-90 dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.

Speaking in front of the palace where then-President Salvador Allende killed himself at the beginning of the military coup, the pope said the country "has faced moments of turmoil, at times painful, yet succeeded in surmounting them."

Quoting from 20th century Chilean St. Alberto Hurado, who founded organizations to care for children in need and strongly supported the country's labor movement, the pontiff said a nation is not just the sum of its land or its traditions but "a mission to be fulfilled."

"It is a future," said the pope. "And that future depends in large part on the ability of its people and leaders to listen."

"The ability to listen proves most important in this nation, whose ethnic, cultural and historical diversity must be preserved from all partisan spirit or attempts at domination, and inspire instead our innate ability to replace narrow ideologies with a healthy concern for the common good," he said.

Bachelet, a member of the country's Socialist Party, is a lame-duck president set to be replaced in March by the more right-wing Sebastián Piñera. She is the daughter of Air Force General Alberto Bachelet, who was tortured to death at the beginning of the military coup.

Francis is visiting Chile Jan. 15-18 before heading on to neighboring Peru through Jan. 22.

Despite the controversy around the Barros appointment, the pope's visit to Chile is scheduled to follow the normal routine of his foreign trips.

After celebrating the Mass Jan. 16, Francis will meet in the afternoon with a group of priests and religious, and then speak to the country's bishops at Santiago's cathedral. On Jan. 17, Francis will visit Temuco, about 415 miles south of Santiago. On Jan. 18 he will visit Iquique, about 1,000 miles north, before continuing on that day to Peru.

There are unconfirmed reports that Francis plans to meet with clergy abuse victims while in Chile. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke did not confirm those reports in a briefing with journalists Jan. 11, but said that such meetings are "best" held privately.

[Joshua J. McElwee is NCR Vatican correspondent. His email address is jmcelwee@ncronline.org. Follow him on Twitter: @joshjmac. Soli Salgado is a staff writer for Global Sisters Report. Her email address is ssalgado@ncronline.org Follow her on Twitter @soli_salgado.]

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