ROME – Bono, the lead singer of the Irish band U2, said he told Pope Francis that in Ireland “it looks as though the abusers are being more protected than the victims. And you could see the pain in his face.”

Bono met the Pope Sept. 19 to sign an agreement between his charity, ONE, and the Scholas Occurentes educational charity supported by Pope Francis.

Pope Francis meets Paul David Hewson, otherwise known as Bono at the Casa Santa Marta. The Irish frontman of the rock band U2 expressed his support for the educational mission of the Pontifical Scholas Occurrentes Foundation, which works for the training and development of children and young people all over the world.

The pain of the Pope

“I saw the pain on his face,” he told reporters in the Holy See Press Office after the meeting, referring to the issue of child abuse by members of the Church in Ireland. The world director of Scholas, José María del Corral, gave a brief introduction in which he highlighted some aspects of the audience between the Pope and the singer. Bono shared the story of his debut in the world of music, which was not , he said, without difficulties and obstacles.

Natural and fluid dialogue

Paul David Hewson defined his meeting with the Holy Father as a “lightning strike”, and he spoke of a natural and fluid dialogue that touched on issues of great relevance, such as the education of young people, especially girls, who in different countries of the world suffer marginalization and exclusion.

Educational Revolution

The singer gave his support to Scholas, and its “innovative projects”, in the great mission of generating an “educational revolution” that helps young people to discover the meaning of life.

During the meeting with the Pope of the care of the common house and of the encyclical “Laudato si ‘” was also discussed. “Pope Francis is an extraordinary man for these extraordinary times”, said Bono before leaving the Vatican Press Office.

 

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