Pope celebrates Mass with four abuse victims

POPE Benedict XVI met victims of sex abuse by priests before flying out of Australia yesterday, wrapping up a visit marked by his historic apology for the scourge of paedophilia in the Catholic Church.

The Pope, who two days earlier publicly expressed “shame” over the “evils” of clerical child abuse, celebrated Mass with two female and two male Australian victims at St Mary’s Cathedral shortly before leaving Sydney and offered them consolation, the Vatican said in a statement.

“Assuring them of his spiritual closeness, he promised to continue to pray for them, their families and all victims,” it said.