Pope Francis on Tuesday led a prayer service asking forgiveness for the failings of the Catholic Church, including treatment by clergy of women and survivors of sexual abuse, as Catholic leaders prepared to begin a month-long summit at the Vatican.

We are only allowed to look down on a person to help them get up,’ Pope Francis told young people at the penitential ceremony.

Vatican City • For the first time, victims of clerical abuse, war and indifference told their stories in the marbled nave of St. Peter’s Basilica before Pope Francis, prominent prelates and young people representing the next generation of Catholics.

Pope Francis will open a month-long summit of global Catholic leaders on Wednesday but it is likely to defer any decision on divisive issues such as women's ordination and blessings for same-sex couples until next year.

Pope Francis launched the second phase of his big Catholic reform project Tuesday by asking forgiveness for a host of sins, reasoning that the church must atone for its transgressions if it wants to re-establish credibility with the faithful.