The apology of Pope Francis Pope Francis, addressing the assembled faithful in St. Peter's Square, asked "forgiveness for the scandals that recently broke out in Rome and the Vatican." The pontiff did not mention specifically which scandals mean, however many commentators stress that is likely in cases of economic mismanagement in Vatican on child abuse on the part of Catholic clergy and intrusion mafia interests in a large part of the economic activities of the Eternal City. "Jesus, who is a realist, tells us that it is inevitable that scandals occur, but woe to the man because of which these scandals occur," added the Argentine pontiff. The Pope then mentioned and "the scandal of children who are victims of rape, neglect and lack of love" scandal even more serious because "children have no way to work out." Many commentators stressed the symbolic and substantive importance of the movement, although while recall that Pope John Paul II had asked repeatedly apologize for the attitude and actions of the Catholic Church throughout the centuries, starting with the persecution of the Jews.