Some Catholic leaders continue to protect the church's reputation by denying that priests abuse children and by discrediting victims. The Pope himself admits to having made similar mistakes.
But Francis has done an about-face and is bringing the rest of the church leadership along with him at the extraordinary summit on Thursday.
The meeting will bring together some 190 presidents of bishops' conferences, religious orders and Vatican offices for lectures and workshops on preventing sex abuse in their churches, tending to victims and investigating abuse.
Survivors will meet organisers and the bishops themselves ahead of the summit.
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