Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis on Thursday set up a committee to fight child abuse in the Catholic Church and offer pastoral care to victims following a recommendation from a council of cardinals he has established to advise him.

The announcement was made by U.S. cardinal Sean O’Malley, the archbishop of Boston and one of the eight members of the council, who said the precise composition of the new committee will be announced “in the near future”.

AFP Photo/Justin Sullivan