US

Pope meets sexual abuse victims

Article published on the 2008-04-17 Latest update 2008-04-18 09:50 TU

Pope Benedict XVI in Washington
(Photo: Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI Thursday held an unannounced meeting with several victims of sexual abuse by priests in the Boston area. After celebrating Mass with a crowd of almost 50,000 people, the Pope held unprecedented talks with a small group who were sexually abused by members of the clergy.

The group prayed together and the Pope listened to the stories of the victims and "offered them words of encouragement and hope".

"His Holiness assured them of his prayers for their intentions, for their families and for all victims of sexual abuse," a Vatican statement added.

The Pope was accompanied by the Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, who was given a list of 1,000 victims in the diocese, where the scandal was first reported.

The Pope has already apologised several times since the start of his visit saying he was "deeply ashamed" of the scandal which has rocked the Catholic Church.

A US group for victims of clerical sexual abuse said the meeting was positive but that the pope needed to do much more to reform the Church and prevent further abuse.

The US clergy sex scandal grew into a nationwide embarrassment for the Church after the then-Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law, resigned in 2002 amid intense pressure due to his handling of abusive priests.

Last year, the US Church paid out 615 million dollars (400 million euros) to settle sex abuse cases, according to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.