Pope Benedict Says Church To Take Action On Sexual Abuse By Priests

ROME, Italy, April 21, 2010— -- During his weekly address in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI assured the crowd of thousands that the Church will be taking action against alleged sexual abusers.

The remarks were the Pope's first direct public mention of alleged sexual abuse by priests since news of widespread abuse in his native Germany broke last month, setting off a barrage of abuse and cover-up charges from around the world.

The Pope was describing a tearful meeting during his recent trip to Malta with eight men who say they were abused by clergy at an orphanage on the island. "I shared with them their suffering, and with emotion, I prayed with them," said Benedict, "assuring them of church action."

The Pope's meeting with the alleged victims took place in private on Sunday in the Apostolic Nunciature on Malta. The Pope was visiting Malta to commemorate the supposed 1950th anniversary of the shipwreck of St. Paul on the shores of the small Mediterranean island.

In a statement following the meeting on Sunday the Vatican said the Pope "was deeply moved by their stories, and expressed his shame and sorrow over what the victims and their families have suffered."Speaking to reporters afterwards, some of the men who met with the Pope said he was moved to tears by their accounts.

In the statement the Vatican also said the Pope had assured the alleged victims 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."