Pope's 'shame' over Chile church sex abuse

Pope Francis has expressed his shame and pain over Chile's sexual abuse scandal involving priests.

Pope Feancis has visited a women's prison in Chile, even as his visit there stirs up controversy.

Pope Francis expressed "pain and shame" on Tuesday over a sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church in Chile, seeking forgiveness for a crisis that has scarred its credibility and left many faithful sceptical of reform.

At least eight Catholic churches were attacked in Chile in the past week, and police in riot gear dispersed 200 demonstrators trying to make their way to the Pope's mass in a park in the capital Santiago.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Argentine pontiff made his remarks about abuse in a speech at the presidential palace, La Moneda.

"Here I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the Church," he said, in front of a crowd containing Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

"I am one with my brother bishops, for it is right to ask for forgiveness and make every effort to support the victims, even as we commit ourselves to ensuring that such things do not happen again," he said.

Catholics have been upset with Francis' appointment in 2015 of Bishop Juan Barros to head the small diocese of Osorno in south-central Chile.

Barros, who attended Tuesday's Mass, has been accused of protecting his former mentor, Father Fernando Karadima, who was found guilty in a Vatican investigation in 2011 of abusing teenage boys over many years.

Karadima has denied the allegations and Barros said he was unaware of any wrongdoing.

Hours after the pope arrived in Chile on Monday, two small wooden churches were burned to the ground near Temuco, where Francis is due to visit on Wednesday.

A church in the capital was attacked during the night, causing minor damage. Vandals burned Chilean and Vatican flags at the site and tossed pamphlets with threats against the pope.

At one attack which involved a homemade bomb, a pamphlet was left that read: "Pope Francis, the next bomb will be in your robe."

Graffiti scrawled on one Santiago church read: "Burn the pope."

But the welcome most Chileans have given Francis has been warm, with tens of thousands lining the streets.

In the afternoon, Francis made an emotional visit to the San Joaquin prison for women.

The women, many of whose children live in the prison with them, cheered when the pope told them that their dignity could never be taken away from them.

"Society has an obligation to reintegrate each one of you," said the pope, who was clearly moved by stories the women told him of prison life.