Pope Benedict deeply moved by abuse victims

"I think it was important for the victims to feel as though they had access to the Holy Father," said Sean Cardinal O'Malley.

BOSTON (CNS) - Meeting victims of clergy sexual abuse at the papal nunciature in the nation's capital during his six-day U.S. visit was a moving experience for Pope Benedict XVI, said Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston.

Speaking April 23 with The Pilot, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, Cardinal O'Malley said the meeting between the pope and victims from the Boston Archdiocese was important to both parties.

"The many times he addressed the sexual abuse crisis (during the trip) indicate how deeply he understands the situation of our church and what happens here," the cardinal said. "He obviously feels a great sorrow over what has happened and that he is ashamed but, at the same time, wants to encourage us on the path to healing and reconciliation.

"I think it was important for the victims to feel as though they had access to the Holy Father," Cardinal O'Malley added.

The meeting was arranged after the cardinal's original request that the pope include a stop in Boston during his trip was denied. Cardinal O'Malley then proposed a meeting with victims at another location and the Vatican approved.

The meeting with victims was kept secret until after it occurred to prevent a "media circus" from developing and to respect the privacy of some victims who wished to remain anonymous, the cardinal said.

Cardinal O'Malley said that during the 25-minute meeting with both men and women victims the pontiff made comments to the group as a whole and then spoke with each individually, clasped their hands, blessed them and prayed with them.

"I think for the Holy Father, pastorally, it was very important to experience this. Certainly he has heard through the bishops and through others the devastation of sexual abuse, but it is another thing to encounter personally the survivors and to learn firsthand of their suffering and pain," the cardinal said in the interview.

A book containing the names of more than 1,000 victims also was presented to the pontiff. Cardinal O'Malley said the names were done in calligraphy with prayers and other reflections interspersed in the listing.

"It was a way to try to underline the fact that the meeting was to be representative of all the victims, not just the ones who were there, or even the ones whose names appeared in the book, and also to underscore the dimension of the problem. The names in the book represent names that have come to us, of cases that have come to us in the last 50 years," Cardinal O'Malley said.

The meeting also was consistent with the pope's message of hope, which he delivered throughout his visit, the cardinal said.

Cardinal O'Malley said he felt the papal trip left a positive impression on Americans, especially among those who are not Catholic. "I had people approach me in the street and tell me they weren't Catholic but they were so pleased with the Holy Father's visit," he said.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops