The Council of Cardinal Advisers has expressed "full solidarity" with Pope Francis, and the Vatican is preparing a detailed response to the accusations made by Vigano, former papal ambassador to the United States. On Thursday, the pope met with U.S. cardinals and bishops at the Vatican to discuss the sexual-abuse scandal. The pontiff has scheduled a four-day meeting for February 2019 when presidents of more than 100 bishop conferences will gather at the Vatican to explore the prevention of sexual abuse in the church.