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.

Francis apologised on Friday for sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Belgium, saying the Church must "be ashamed and ask forgiveness". He also held a two-hour meeting with a group of survivors, who pressed him to provide better financial compensation for victims.

On Sept. 30, Pope Francis met with a delegation of women at the Vatican who presented voices from the Amazon region and around the world.

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.

On Saturday, Pope Francis acknowledged that the abuse scandal had created "atrocious suffering and wounds," and undermined the faith.

Pope Francis also doubled down on his traditional views on abortion and praised Catholic abuse victims for their conduct.

Pope Francis has doubled down on his traditional views on abortion and women during his in-flight news conference coming home from Belgium. He has praised Belgium’s late King Baudouin as

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