THE Vatican has been slammed for posting bizarre images of Pope Francis laughing along with religious leaders at an emergency meeting to discuss the sex scandals which have rocked the Catholic Church.

The shocking pictures feature top church officials including US cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, LA archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez and monsignor Brian Bransfield of Philadelphia.

4 Pope Francis meets to discuss the Vatican's response to a new wave of devastating claims of sexual abuse by clergy Credit: AFP or licensors

They were taken just before a private meeting at the Vatican on Thursday to address the shocking groping allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

A number of the Twitter critics pointed out what bad taste the "laughing" image was in and one even called for the press officer who posted the photos to be fired.

The pontiff has been under intense pressure since former Vatican ambassador Carlo Vigano claimed the church has known about the allegations against McCarrick for years.

Nardo has said he wants Francis to authorise a fully-fledged investigation into the former religious leader, who was removed as acardinal in July after a "credible accusation" that he groped a teenager.

4 The pontiff has been under intense pressure in recent months to address the issue Credit: EPA

4 Pope Francis welcomes Cardinal Daniel DiNardo who leads the US Conference of Bishops Credit: AFP or licensors

Paloma García Ovejero, the vice director of the Vatican press office, recently announced a decision to call an emergency meeting with the presidents of the bishops' conferences of the Catholic Church from around the world on the theme of "protection of minors."

The situation is so unprecedented that when asked how many national bishops' conferences there were across the globe, Garcia did not know.

Estimates suggest there are 114 national conferences of bishops in the Latin church and 21 synods, councils, and assemblies.

4 Monsignor Brian Bransfield, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Pope Francis, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo and the Archbishop of LA Jose Horacio Gomez Credit: AFP or licensors

Pope Francis discusses historic child abuse within the Catholic Church at his address in Knock, Ireland

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The Pope received fresh criticism recently from Mark Healy, the first male survivor of Irish clerical abuse to meet Francis, who said he had pledged to take action when he was first elected in 2013.

He told CNN: "From around the world inquiries have reported their findings and received commentary in countless reports, audits, films, documentaries, media flashes and bursts.

"All the while the Vatican moves at a glacial pace to 'address' the scandal with words of apology and acknowledgement of the harm done."