It's what Pope Francis has called "the shame of the Church" -- a child sex abuse scandal that has plagued the Catholic church for years.
Now, the U.N. wants to know the full scope of the alleged child sex abuses, demanding more transparency.
A U.N. panel of child protection experts grilled a delegation of Vatican officials in Geneva for six hours over its handling of the allegations that involve clergy around the world.
Kirsten Sandberg, chairwoman of the 18-strong U.N. committee said, "the best way to prevent abuses is to reveal old ones - openness instead of sweeping offenses under the carpet."
The head of the Vatican delegation, Silvano Tomasi:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF VATICAN DELEGATION SILVANO M TOMASI SAYING:
"Egregious crimes of abuse committed against children have rightly been adjudicated and punished by the competent civil authorities in their respective countries."
Victims have accused the Church of covering up such abuses.
