Pope Francis has condemned the "atrocities" of child sex abuse and clerical cover-ups in a letter to the world's 1.2bn Roman Catholics.

What did the Pope say?

• Read the letter in full

What are the latest cases?

What has the reaction been?

Marie Collins@marielco



Statements from Vatican or Pope should stop telling us how terrible abuse is and how all must be held accountable. Tell us instead what you are doing to hold them accountable. That is what we want to hear. “Working on it” is not an acceptable explanation for decades of “delay”

Marie Collins@marielco



The condemnation of clericalism in the letter is good to see as it plays a big part in the ignoring of the laity, survivors and experts. It gives rise to the ease with which church leaders can feel comfortable protecting fellow clerics despite their crimes against children