PHILADELPHIA — Pope Francis this morning met with survivors of sexual abuse during his visit to Philadelphia and told bishops in a gathering at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary afterward that the evil acts can no longer remain in silence, promising his personal vigilance in protecting minors.

“The stories of suffering and pain of minors who were sexually abused by priests have aggravated my heart,” Pope Francis told bishops participating in the World Meeting of Families Sept. 27.

He said these victims are continuously overwhelmed by the shame of “people who were responsible for the tender care of these little ones and violated them.”

In the face of such heinous acts, “God cries,” he said, adding that “the criminal sins of the abuse of minors can't be kept in silence any longer.

“I promise, with the vigilance of the Church, to protect minors; and I promise (that) all of those responsible to give good account.”

Pope Francis’ meeting with abuse survivors was not on the official schedule for his visit to Philadelphia.

Survivors of abuse, he said, have become “true heralds of hope and ministers of mercy.” He said we must be grateful for each one of them and their families for “their immense value in shining the light of Christ over the evil of the abuse of minors.”

“I say this now because I have just met with a group of people abused as children, who are helped and accompanied here in Philadelphia, with the special affection of Archbishop Chaput. I thought it was the right thing to do, to tell you all where I was this morning.”