Pope, opening abuse conference, says Church has to listen to victims

Pope Francis, opening a landmark Vatican conference on clergy sexual abuse, said on Thursday the Roman Catholic Church would "listen to the cry of the little ones seeking justice".

In a short opening statement, he said Catholics and victims were expecting not simple, predictable condemnations but "concrete and efficient measures". The "evil" of sexual abuse of children by priests had to be transformed into understanding and purification, he said.