Pope Francis branded exploitation of women for prostitution a “crime against humanity” on Monday and asked forgiveness from society for Catholic men who use prostitutes.

The pope made his frank comments in a remarkable, freewheeling question-and-answer session with young people from around the world who came to Rome to prepare for a bishops’ meeting scheduled for October at the Vatican.

Blessing Okoedion, a 32-year-old Nigerian who was once a victim of human sexual trafficking, told the pope she was troubled that many clients of prostitutes on the streets of Rome were Catholic.

Saudi Arabia Imposes Levy On Frequent Nigerian Pilgrims

Saudi Arabian authorities have imposed a compulsory levy equivalent of N163,000 on all prospective Nigerian pilgrims, who have performed Hajj or Umrah in the last two years.

The Saudi Arabian authorities also introduced a five percent Value Added Tax on all services, excluding food items and medical drugs.

Catholic Bishop Donates Essentials To IDPs In Plateau

Most Rev. Michael Gokum, the Catholic Bishop of Pankshin Diocese of Plateau, has made donations of food items and N45,000 to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau.

Some of the items donated include; bags of rice, beans, sugar, garri, among others.

The donation, which was made on Sunday, was facilitated by the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the diocese.

The Nigerian bishop whom Pope Francis had fiercely defended has resigned after a five-year, sometimes violent, standoff with some priests and worshippers who rejected him as an ethnic outsider, the Vatican said on Monday. A Vatican press release quoted by its news agency, Agenzia Fides, reads;