Pope Benedict today said he deeply regretted the suffering victims of child sexual abuse endured at the hands of some priests in the Diocese of Ferns.
The Pope expressed his deep sorrow and distress at the events to Dr Denis Brennan, Bishop of Ferns, who was granted an audience with the pontiff this afternoon as part of the visit of the Irish Episcopal Conference.
The pontiff said the behaviour of some clergy was "incomprehensible" and that their actions had devastated human lives and profoundly betrayed the trust of children, young people, their families, parish communities and the diocesan family.
The Pontiff expressed solidarity with the lay-faithful, religious and priests of Ferns in the sufferings they have endured and in the deep pain caused by the scandal of sexual abuse of the young.
The Report of the Ferns Inquiry into abuse in the Diocese said it identified more than 100 allegations of child sexual abuse, made between 1962 and 2002, against 21 priests.
Six of the priests had died before any allegations of abuse were made against them.