WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI held an unscheduled meeting with victims of priestly sexual abuse, shortly after pledging the church's continued efforts to help heal the wounds caused by such acts.
The Vatican said the pope met privately in a chapel at the apostolic nunciature with "a small group of persons who were sexually abused by members of the clergy." The group was accompanied by Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, which was the epicenter of the abuse scandal.
"They prayed with the Holy Father, who afterward listened to their personal accounts and offered them words of encouragement and hope," a Vatican statement said.
"His Holiness assured them of his prayers for their intentions, for their families and for all victims of sexual abuse," it said.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican press spokesman, told journalists the meeting involved five or six victims, men and women from the Archdiocese of Boston, and lasted about 25 minutes. During the encounter, each of the victims had a chance to speak personally to the pope, who spoke some "very affectionate words," he said.
Father Lombardi said it was a very emotional meeting; some were in tears.
At the end of the meeting, Cardinal O'Malley gave the pope a book listing the first names of the approximately 1,000 victims of sexual abuse in the archdiocese within the last several decades, Father Lombardi said, so the pope could remember them in his prayers.
The pope has spoken three times about clerical sexual abuse since he left Rome April 15 for his six-day visit to the United States, expressing the sense of shame he and other church leaders feel about what he called a "tragic situation."
On each occasion, he made a point to encourage church leaders and all Catholics to help those harmed by the abuse.
Some groups criticized the pope for not visiting Boston on this trip and for not scheduling an encounter with victims. Vatican officials had not ruled out such a meeting, but indicated that if it occurred it would be very private.
Barbara Blaine, president of the Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests, praised the victims for having "the courage to come forward and speak up" but said she did not think the meeting "will change anything."
"Kids need actions," such as punishment for those "supervisors and bishops who have enabled and covered up for predators," she told Catholic News Service.
Another positive step that Pope Benedict could take "with one stroke of the pen," Blaine said, would be to mandate that any priest who flees a country where he had been accused of sexual abuse be immediately returned to that country to face the consequences of his actions.
She also said it was "extremely disappointing" that the victims were accompanied by Cardinal O'Malley, recently named by SNAP as one of the "worst U.S. cardinals" in terms of his response to clergy sex abuse.
"That was probably not the best decision," Blaine said. "He hasn't even put into place the basics to help children protect themselves" from predators.
According to SNAP, one in five children in the Archdiocese of Boston has not received the safe environment training mandated by the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," approved by the U.S. bishops at their Dallas meeting in June 2002.
On the plane taking him to the United States April 15, Pope Benedict told reporters: "If I read the histories of these victims, it's difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betrayed in this way their mission to give healing, to give the love of God to these children."
Addressing the U.S. bishops April 16, he said sexual abuse was one of the "countersigns to the Gospel of life" and lauded their efforts to ensure these acts will not happen again.
At a Mass in Nationals Park April 17, he said that "no words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention."
The pope lauded the efforts to deal "honestly and fairly with this tragic situation and to ensure that children -- whom Our Lord loves so deeply and who are our greatest treasure -- can grow up in a safe environment."
"I encourage each of you to do what you can to foster healing and reconciliation and to assist those who have been hurt. Also, I ask you to love your priests, and to affirm them in the excellent work that they do," he said.
During an interview with CNN three of the victims who met with the Holy Father described the meeting as being a healing experience.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Three victims of the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the Roman Catholic Church described an emotional, frank and ultimately hope-filled meeting with Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday.
They were part of a small group of people abused by clergy who were asked to share their stories with the pope in a Washington chapel.
"They prayed with the Holy Father, who afterwards listened to their personal accounts and offered them words of encouragement and hope," said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, a papal spokesman.
The exchanges were frank and unscripted, according to some of the victims.
"I told him that he has a cancer growing in his ministry and needs to do something about it," Bernie McDaid said in an exclusive interview with CNN. Watch victims tell their stories of abuse »
But McDaid said he came away from the meeting feeling that there was real hope that this time the problem would be addressed, with action to follow.
"I don't go to Mass, but today I went with my mother, and his sermon there and his apology about the sexual abuse blew me away, and I had tears in my eyes that I wasn't ready to have. It was an incredible moment for me."
Another victim said his hope was also restored after meeting Benedict.
"He first apologized," Olan Horne said. "He seemed to intrinsically understand what we were talking about." Watch victims talk about their meeting with the pope »
Horne said the victims were allowed the time necessary to say what needed to be said, which impressed him.
"I'm from Missouri, 'show me,' and today I saw," Horne said.
Faith Johnston said she was praying for the strength to say the right thing to the pope, but when the time came, emotions took over.
"I didn't end up saying anything. I got up to him, and I burst into tears. But I don't think any words I could have said; I think my tears alone spoke so much."
As you can see, SNAP still isn't happy. Nothing will ever make them happy; however, I loved when McDaid said in the interview that it was like talking with a grandfather.
Healing will never happen unless those who hurt apologize and those who were hurt allow themselves to heal. Hopefully, the victims who were hurt to viciously will be able to accept the Holy Father's heartfelt apology.
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