In a wide-ranging exchange with journalists, Francis also urged caution in the “interpretation” of damning report into child sexual abuse by French Catholic clergy, saying a “historical situation” must be viewed in context.

A landmark inquiry overseen by an independent commission in October confirmed extensive sexual abuse of minors by priests in France dating from the 1950s to 2020.

“When we do this kind of study, we must be attentive to the interpretation we make of it,” he said.

“Abuse 100 years ago, 70 years ago, was brutality. But the way it was experienced is not the same as today,” he said.

“For example, in the case of abuse in the church, the attitude was to cover it up – an attitude that unfortunately still exists today in a large number of families.”

He added that the “historical situation” must be interpreted by the standards of the time.
The pope, who after the publication of the report expressed his “shame”, revealed he had not read it himself but would discuss it with French bishops when they visited him later this month.

Francis also said he was ready to travel to Moscow to meet the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church. It would be the first trip by a pope to Russia.

The pope has met Patriarch Kirill before – in 2016 they had an historic encounter on neutral ground in Cuba. It was the first meeting between the heads of the two largest Christian churches since Christianity split into Western and Eastern branches in the 11th century – an event known as the Great Schism.

“I am ready to go to Moscow, for a dialogue with a brother,” the pope said, adding that the meeting with Kirill was on a “horizon that is not far.”

The two sides have said they are willing to work towards unity but they are still far apart theologically and over what role the pope would play in an eventually reunited Church.

“We are brothers and we talk straight to each other. We do not dance the minuet,” Francis said.