Pope meets with abuse victims, promises justice

LA VALLETTA (Reuters) – Pope Benedict XVI prayed and wept with eight victims of sexual abuse in Malta on Sunday and promised that the church would do “everything in its power” to bring the perpetrators to justice and protect youth.

“It was exciting. All cried,” said Lawrence Grech, a victim 37 years after the private meeting that took place after the pope”s Mass on the second and final day of his visit.

The meeting, announced only after completion, was the first gesture of Benedict XVI since a new wave of sexual abuse scandals affected the Roman Catholicism in recent months . Previously he had met with victims of U.S. and Australia.

“He prayed with them and assured them that the Church is doing and will continue doing everything in their power to investigate charges, to bring to justice those responsible for abuses and implement effective measures to protect young people in the future, “said a Vatican statement on the meeting.

The statement was one of the clearest signs that the Vatican hopes that local bishops cooperate with civil authorities to prosecute priests who abuse minors.

“He was deeply moved by their stories and expressed shame and sorrow for what the victims and their families have suffered, “the statement added.

He also stressed that Benedict XVI prayed for all victims of abuse experience healing and reconciliation, allowing them to move forward with renewed hope. “

A Vatican spokesman said the pope met with them as a group and who later spoke with each individually before they pray together.

“I lost my faith in the past 20 years,” said Grech, 37, after the meeting. “I said #39, you can fill the void, filling what the priests took me out when I was young #39 ;”.

” This experience will change my life. Now I can go my daughter and say #39, I think #39, “he said breaking into tears.

(Reporting by Philip Pullella, Spanish Editing by David Gregorio)