Sir, - It is rather a pity that Pope John Paul's "sincere admission of the errors committed by the children of the [Catholic] church both in the recent and faraway past" should have been received so ungraciously by Vincent Browne and the other begrudgers in the correspondence columns.
Apart from Chancellor Willy Brandt, I know of no other world leader in the history of mankind who has attempted to apologise for the errors or misdeeds of his nation or society. Unfortunately, there has been no shortage of events throughout human history - and in every race - which would merit some form of regretful acknowledgment of offence or failure.
Reconciliation is a two-way process and an apology, to be total, must be fully accepted without reservation. - Yours, etc.,
Louis Power, Louglinstown, Co Dublin.