The leaders of the Catholic Church in Chile have met the country's president amid a growing sex abuse scandal.

Earlier last week, the church in Chile formally apologised to abuse victims, saying nothing could justify it.

Monsignor Alejandro Goic, head of the church in Chile, said there had been 20 confirmed or alleged cases.

Sex abuse scandals have gripped the church worldwide this year, with a Belgian bishop resigning on Friday. In Chile, last week was the toughest yet for the church since allegations first arose over widespread child abuse.

Chile is regarded as one of the most staunchly Catholic countries in Latin America. Divorce was outlawed until 2004 and abortion remains strictly illegal.

Goic and the Archbishop of Santiago, Cardinal Francisco Errázuriz, met President Sebastián Piñera for more than an hour. Afterwards, Cardinal Errázuriz said he would send a letter out to every parish in the country this weekend in response to the scandal.

In five of the cases in Chile, sentences were imposed. In another five, trials are under way and, in the remaining 10, the priests have been absolved or results are pending. In one of the cases, four men accused a senior priest in Santiago, now aged 80, of sexually abusing them for years.

Prosecutors in Chile have launched an investigation into the allegations against the cleric, Fr Fernando Karadima, a respected and influential figure within the Chilean church who trained priests.

A lawyer for the retired priest was quoted as denying the allegations.