In 2015, Francis had Tomasito laid to rest in the Teutonic cemetery in the Vatican, close to the place where St. Peter was executed.

In his off-the-cuff remarks, the pope highlighted the importance of listening.

Father Sosa said the Society of Jesus will also seek to respond to “the concrete requests of Pope Francis” in support of his work for the renewal of the church and its structures.

Bishop Brennan was one of nearly 40 bishops in Rome for a regularly scheduled series of meetings with the pope

For more than a year, he has faced questions about how he has addressed the clergy sex abuse crisis.

"When, at Christmas, we place the statue of the Infant Jesus in the manger, the nativity scene suddenly comes alive. God appears as a child, for us to take into our arms," the pope said.