The Pope has expressed dismay and sorry at the sexual abuse of young people by Irish church personnel and the way it was addressed by local bishops and religious superiors in a Pastoral letter he sent to the Catholics in Ireland.
Pope Benedict speaks of his closeness to the whole Irish Catholic community and proposes a path of healing, renewal and reparation in the letter published in the Vatican website today.Addressing the victims of sexual abuse, the Holy Father acknowledges the grievous betrayal they have suffered and he tells them how sorry he is over what they have endured.
Pope Benedict urges the victims not to lose hope while recognizing how hard it must be for many of them to forgive or be reconciled with the Church.
The Pontiff added that priests and religious who have abused young people will answer before properly constituted tribunals for the sinful and criminal actions they have committed.
The Pope told the Catholic Irish Bishops they made grave errors of judgement, because they did not proceed correctly while answering to allegations of abuse.
Pope Benedict asked all to offer up their Friday penances, for a period of one year, in reparation for the sins of abuse.
The pope also announced his intention to hold an Apostolic Visitation of certain dioceses, religious congregations and seminaries.