Pope meets with abuse victims, tells UK he's sorry

"I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes."

View full sizeAPPilgrims holding banners await the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI for an open air prayer vigil Saturday in Hyde Park, London.

LONDON (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI met Saturday with five people who were molested by priests as children and apologized to them, even as abuse survivors and thousands of people opposed to his visit marched in central London in the biggest protest of his five-year papacy.

Benedict met for about 30 to 40 minutes with the victims at the Vatican’s apostolic nunciature in Wimbledon and prayed with them, according to the Vatican and Bill Kilgallon, chairman of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission — a church group that organized the encounter.

Benedict “expressed his deep sorrow and shame over what victims and their families had suffered,” according to a Vatican statement.

“He prayed with them and assured them that the Catholic Church is continuing to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people, and that it is doing all in its power to investigate allegations, to collaborate with civil authorities and to bring to justice clergy and religious (brothers) accused of these egregious crimes,” it said.

The statement was similar to ones issued by the Vatican when Benedict has met previously with victims on foreign trips to the United States, Australia and Malta. This time, Benedict also met with a group of professionals and volunteers who work to safeguard children and young people in church environments and praised their efforts.

View full sizeAPA nun kisses the hand of Pope Benedict XVI during a visit at St Peter's Residence for older people Saturday in London.

“I pray that your generous service will help to reinforce an atmosphere of trust and renewed commitment to the welfare of children, who are such a precious gift from God,” he told them. Complete coverage from the BBC.

Kilgallon said he didn’t know if any of the victims would choose to speak to the media. He told the British Broadcasting Corp. that the victims weren’t angry but wanted to make sure children were protected. “Anger can be very constructive if they work for change,” he said.

During a Mass in Westminster Cathedral earlier Saturday, Benedict said he hoped the church’s humiliation would help victims heal and help the church purify itself and renew its commitment to educating the young.

His comments, which were in line with his previous statements on the topic, were directed at Britain’s Catholic community in the seat of the English church, a sign that Benedict wanted to speak to the faithful about the humiliation they all felt as Catholics.

“I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes, along with my hope that the power of Christ’s grace, his sacrifice of reconciliation, will bring deep healing and peace to their lives,” Benedict said in his homily.

He acknowledged the shame and humiliation all the faithful had suffered as a result of the scandal and said he hoped “this chastisement will contribute to the healing of the victims, the purification of the church and the renewal of her age-old commitment to the education and care of young people.”

Chris Daly, a spokesman for Scottish abuse victims, said the pope’s words helped but that victims want to see action: an acknowledgment from church authorities of their failures and cover-up, and material support to help victims.