The 70th anniversaries of the bombing of Coventry and the ending of the Battle of Britain were commemorated in Birmingham today by Pope Benedict XVI at the beatification ceremony for Cardinal John Henry Newman in Crofton Park there.
In London yesterday he met five victims of clerical child sex abuse, including a woman who had been abused as a child in Ireland and, for the first time, he met lay Catholics involved with child protection, members of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (of England and Wales).
Today in Birmingham was a day he said, which marked “a significant moment in the life of the British nation, as it is the day chosen to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.”
“For me as one who lived and suffered through the dark days of the Nazi regime in Germany, it is deeply moving to be here with you on this occasion, and to recall how many of your fellow citizens sacrificed their lives, courageously resisting the forces of that evil ideology,” he said.
Referring to one of the most serious assaults on Britain in the Second World War, he continued “my thoughts go in particular to nearby Coventry, which suffered such heavy bombardment and massive loss of life in November 1940.”
He recalled “with shame and horror the dreadful toll of death and destruction that war brings in its wake, and we renew our resolve to work for peace and reconciliation wherever the threat of conflict looms.”
But yesterday was also “the day that sees Cardinal John Henry Newman formally raised to the altars and declared Blessed,” he said. In “Blessed John Henry, that tradition of gentle scholarship, deep human wisdom and profound love for the Lord has borne fruit”.
An estimated 80,000 people attended yesterday’s ceremony. Among those present from Ireland were the Catholic Primate Cardinal Sean Brady and the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin. On Saturday evening in London an estimated 70,000 people attended the prayer vigil in Hyde Park in advance of the beatification.
Yesterday the Pope met five victims of clerical child sex abuse at the papal nunciature in London for about 30 minutes.
A statement from the Vatican press office afterwards said the Pope “was moved” by what the victims had to say “and expressed his deep sorrow and shame over what victims and their families had suffered.”
He assured them that the Catholic Church was “continuing to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people, and that it is doing all in its power to investigate allegations, to collaborate with civil authorities and to bring to justice clergy and religious accused of these egregious crimes.”
At Mass in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday he expressed “deep sorrow” to people abused by priests. He acknowledged “the shame and humiliation which all of us have suffered because of these sins” and trusted that “this chastisement” would contribute to the healing of victims, and the purification of the Church .
This afternoon Pope Benedict acknowledged the sex abuse scandal “seriously undermines the moral credibility” of the Church. But he said Church leaders had taken “serious steps” to ensure children are
protected from harm.
And he suggested the Catholic Church in Britain could share the lessons it has learned about child abuse with wider society.
The Pontiff told Catholic bishops of England, Scotland and Wales: “(A) matter which has received much attention in recent months, and which seriously undermines the moral credibility of Church leaders, is the shameful abuse of children and young people by priests.
“I have spoken on many occasions of the deep wounds that such behaviour
causes, in the victims first and foremost, but also in the relationships and
trust that should exist between priests and people, between priests and their
bishops, and between the Church authorities and the public.
“I know that you have taken serious steps to remedy this situation, to ensure that children are effectively protected from harm and to deal properly and transparently with allegations as they arise.”
Speaking at the Seminary Chapel at Oscott College, Sutton Coldfield, he
continued: “Your growing awareness of the extent of child abuse in society, its devastating effects and the need to provide proper victim support should serve as an incentive to share the lessons you have learned with the wider community.
“Indeed what better way could there be of making reparation for these sins
than by reaching out, in a humble spirit of compassion, towards children who continue to suffer abuse elsewhere?”