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Valletta, Malta:
Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday expressed his personal "shame and sorrow" to victims of paedophile priests at a surprise meeting during a visit to Malta.
The small group of men met Benedict at the papal envoy's residence in Malta, one of the countries rocked by the international scandal that has shaken the Roman Catholic Church.
The pontiff "was deeply moved by their stories and expressed his shame and sorrow over what victims and their families have suffered," the Vatican said.
Pope Benedict "prayed with them and assured them that the Church is doing, and will continue to do, all in its power to investigate allegations (and) to bring to justice those responsible for abuse," it said in a statement.
Benedict promised the victims "effective measures designed to safeguard young people in the future."
The 83-year-old pope arrived in the tiny Mediterranean state yesterday on his first foreign trip since the focus of the priest sex abuse scandals moved to Europe in recent months.
The pope, who met with victims in Australia and the United States in 2008, has come under increasing pressure over allegations that the Vatican hierarchy, himself included, helped protect predator priests.
The small group of men met Benedict at the papal envoy's residence in Malta, one of the countries rocked by the international scandal that has shaken the Roman Catholic Church.
The pontiff "was deeply moved by their stories and expressed his shame and sorrow over what victims and their families have suffered," the Vatican said.
Pope Benedict "prayed with them and assured them that the Church is doing, and will continue to do, all in its power to investigate allegations (and) to bring to justice those responsible for abuse," it said in a statement.
Benedict promised the victims "effective measures designed to safeguard young people in the future."
The 83-year-old pope arrived in the tiny Mediterranean state yesterday on his first foreign trip since the focus of the priest sex abuse scandals moved to Europe in recent months.
The pope, who met with victims in Australia and the United States in 2008, has come under increasing pressure over allegations that the Vatican hierarchy, himself included, helped protect predator priests.
