A Vatican spokesperson confirmed this afternoon that Pope Benedict XVI has had a private meeting with victims of sexual abuse in Malta. It is the pope’s third such encounter, after meetings with victims in the United States in April 2008 and, in July of the same year, in Australia.
The victims had previously met with Archbishop Paul Cremona, head of the local Catholic church in Malta, who said earlier today that the church «must be humble enough to recognize the failures and sins of its members.»
Vatican spokespersons had consistely said that while a meeting with victims in Malta was possible, it would not be announced beforehand, and had cautioned journalists against creating «great expectations» of such a meeting.
A Vatican statement released today said the pope «was deeply moved by their stories and expressed his shame and sorrow over what victims and their families have suffered.»
«He prayed with them and assured them that the Church is doing, and will continue to do, all in its power to investigate allegations, to bring to justice those responsible for abuse and to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people in the future,» the statement said.
Dette har jeg lest hos John Allen – som på samme side har lenker til andre nyheter om pavens besøk på Malta.
OPPDATERING:
I en ny artikkel søndag kveld forteller John Allen litt om reaksjonene fra overgrepsofferne som møtte paven:
One of the eight victims of sexual abuse who met Pope Benedict XVI today in Malta described the encounter as «very emotional,» saying most of those present were crying, and even the pope had «tears in his eyes.»
«I made peace with the church,» said Joseph Magro, one of the victims who met the pope. Magro has been among the most outspoken of ten Maltese men who recently came forward to say they were abused by Catholic priests at a church-run orphanage in the 1980s and 1990s. …
Another victim who met the pope, who asked to be described as «Immanuel,» said that the victims «will continue the fight for justice,» and insisted that they do not want money from the Catholic church.
OPPDATERING 2:
Dagbladet melder også om dette.