With two documents the changes the pope is the practice of the secrecy of the abuse and the definition of child pornography.

Pope Francis has changed the way the catholic church handles cases of child sexual abuse within the church framework.

It has previously been the subject of the "papal secret".

It is two documents from the pope, which changes the way in which the catholic church in the future to act, writes the BBC.

The "pontifical secret" is a rule of confidentiality. It has been designed to prevent the leak of sensitive information that can harm the church.

the Repeal means that the catholic church in the future must adhere to the law in the countries that require it. Here the church's priests, bishops and cardinals to help the authorities to investigate cases of sexual assault.

at the same time, cases of sexual abuse, however, are still treated with the "security, integrity and confidentiality". But for the future not to such an extent that it prevents the authorities of the countries in dispensing justice. It writes the news agency dpa.

Pope Francis has also decided to change the definition of child pornography, so the limit of children that occurs in connection with pornographic content, be raised from 14 to 18 years.

It was pope Francis' predecessor, pope Benedict XVI, who decided that the cases of child sexual abuse should be treated in the strictest confidence, writes Reuters.

He was in 2001, cardinal and head of the Vatican's special office for the abuses. He believed that it was necessary to protect both the victims and the defendants.

the Vatican has been criticized for having covered over sexovergreb in the church on children and young people.

The catholic church has in recent years been seriously shaken by the several thousand reports of sexual abuse committed by clergy. It has also been revealed that cardinals and bishops have been aware of very serious crimes, without reacting.

They have been revealed to a great extent in countries like the USA, Ireland, Germany, France, Chile and Australia.

/ritzau/AFP