Vatican City: The Vatican made it clear that Pope Francis had summoned Chile's bishops to Rome for a papal dressing-down because of their role in covering up sexual abuse by priests and their "grave omissions" in caring for victims.

In an exceedingly harsh statement that set the tone for next week's meetings, the Vatican said Francis wanted to discern responsibilities for the crisis and map changes in Chilean church to prevent these "devastating wounds" from repeating themselves.

"It is fundamental to re-establish trust in the church through good pastors ... who know how to accompany the suffering of victims and work in a determined and untiring way to prevent abuse," the statement said.

For years, sex abuse victims have blasted the Chilean hierarchy for discrediting their claims, protecting abusers, moving them around rather than turning them over to police and then handing out light sentences when church sanctions are imposed.

Francis appears to have heard their complaints, and is making amends for having repeatedly defended a Chilean bishop accused of witnessing and ignoring abuse. Francis has admitted to "grave errors in judgement" in the case of Bishop Juan Barros, for having discredited the victims who placed him at the scene of their abuse.