Pope, in Portugal to rally young Catholics, says Church needs purification

A cross is seen during the opening mass of the XXXVII World Youth Day celebration, in Lisbon, Portugal August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

LISBON (Reuters) -Pope Francis on Wednesday said the Catholic Church needs a "humble and ongoing purification" to deal with the "anguished cries" of victims of clerical sexual abuse, who he met privately on the first day of his visit to Portugal.

Francis was speaking in Lisbon at the start of a five-day visit to the country in which he hopes to energize young Catholics during World Youth Day, the world's largest Catholic festival.