<p>The Catholic Church must show "zero tolerance" to sexual assault by members of the clergy, Pope Francis said in excerpts of an interview with a Portuguese television channel broadcast Sunday.</p>.<p>"It's very clear. It's zero tolerance," he told TVI/CNN Portugal in an interview, extracts of which were published on the channel's website.</p>.<p>"A priest cannot continue being a priest if he is an aggressor. He cannot because he is either sick, or a criminal," he said.</p>.<p>"It's monstrous because it destroys lives," he added, during the two-part interview to be aired on Sunday and Monday.</p>.<p>An independent inquiry into sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in Portugal has so far gathered testimony from around 400 people, said the man leading the inquiry, child psychiatrist Pedro Stretch.</p>.<p>As a result, 17 cases have been referred to the judiciary. The findings of the inquiry are expected at the end of the year.</p>.<p>"I do not deny abuses," said the pope. "A single abuse would already be monstruous."</p>.<p>He said he hoped to visit Portugal in August next year for World Youth Day, a gathering of young Catholics.</p>.<p>"I think I will go. In any case, the pope will go," he said.</p>.<p>The pontiff has raised the possibility of retiring due to his declining health.</p>
<p>The Catholic Church must show "zero tolerance" to sexual assault by members of the clergy, Pope Francis said in excerpts of an interview with a Portuguese television channel broadcast Sunday.</p>.<p>"It's very clear. It's zero tolerance," he told TVI/CNN Portugal in an interview, extracts of which were published on the channel's website.</p>.<p>"A priest cannot continue being a priest if he is an aggressor. He cannot because he is either sick, or a criminal," he said.</p>.<p>"It's monstrous because it destroys lives," he added, during the two-part interview to be aired on Sunday and Monday.</p>.<p>An independent inquiry into sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in Portugal has so far gathered testimony from around 400 people, said the man leading the inquiry, child psychiatrist Pedro Stretch.</p>.<p>As a result, 17 cases have been referred to the judiciary. The findings of the inquiry are expected at the end of the year.</p>.<p>"I do not deny abuses," said the pope. "A single abuse would already be monstruous."</p>.<p>He said he hoped to visit Portugal in August next year for World Youth Day, a gathering of young Catholics.</p>.<p>"I think I will go. In any case, the pope will go," he said.</p>.<p>The pontiff has raised the possibility of retiring due to his declining health.</p>