The Vatican's acknowledgement takes controversies that have rocked the church in the United States and more recently in Europe to the country with the largest Catholic population in world. About 74 per cent of Brazil's 140 million people identify as Catholics.
SBT television last week aired video from a hidden camera showing father Marques Barbosa, 82, having sex with a 19-year-old boy in the northeastern state of Alagoas.
After the act, the priest's face is identified as he looks toward the camera and says 'Who's there?' 'Who is it?'
The report on the program Conexao Reporter also included charges by three former altar boys that they too had been sexually abused by local priests.
After the show was aired, Alagoas bishop Valerio Breda ordered the removal from church work of priests Luiz Marques Barbosa, Edilson Duarte and Raimundo Gomes.
'One was removed from his parish and faces charges in the civil justice system,' Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told AFP, adding that the other two had been suspended from their duties pending an investigation.
Graphic video of Marques Barbosa's abuse last year with a victim identified as Fabiano is being sold on the streets of the town of Arapiraca, website Alagoas 24 horas reported." ...more
