Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI met the group, including a representative from Scotland, privately at the Apostolic Nunciature, in Wimbledon, West London in a meeting lasting around 40 minutes, a spokeswoman for the Church said.

His Holiness is reported to have prayed with the abuse survivors—four from London, one from Scotland and one from Yorkshire—and then assured them that the Church is ‘continuing to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people.’ He added 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.’

He also prayed that clerical abuse victims ‘experience healing and reconciliation, and be able to overcome their past and present distress with serenity and hope for the future.’

One of the victims is thought to have been abused in Ireland.

Bill Kilgallon, chairman of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission, (NCSC), who brokered the meeting said: “They were understandably quite emotional at the prospect of meeting the Pope but looking forward to the opportunity to tell him about their experiences.”

Mr Kilgallon said that each victim had the chance to speak to the Pope personally and that the Holy Father appeared to be ‘really shaken’ by the betrayal of trust that led to clerical abuse.