Vatican: John Paul II knew of McCarrick's abuse 1:01
(CNN) -
Pope Francis, in his first public comments following the appearance of a report detailing the Vatican's mishandling of allegations of sexual abuse against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, promised that the Catholic Church would work to "uproot this evil".
"Yesterday the report on the painful case of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was published," Francis said in his weekly audience Wednesday from the Vatican.
The Vatican admits that Pope John Paul II was warned about allegations of abuse by Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, and largely acquits Francis
"I renew my closeness to the victims of all abuse and the Church's commitment to uproot this evil," the pope said.
The 400+ page report took two years to compile.
The Vatican published it on Tuesday.
Sexual abuse in the Church