The pope's meeting with sexual abuse victims

Whispers in the Loggia provides a link to the most touching story I've read yet on Pope Benedict's meeting with victims of priestly sexual abuse. Rocco Palmo--the Whispers blogger--entitles his entry "The Healing in the Chapel" and provides a little information about the author, Patricia Rice.
I saw an interview on CNN with some of the people the pope met with, and found myself amazed at the spiritual hope and sense of healing the victims expressed after the meeting. Amazed, that is, that CNN would have such a positive report, not that Benedict XVI would have that effect on people. The next day, on National Public Radio, all the hope and healing aspect of the meeting was "on the cutting room floor" except for about 10 seconds at the end. Anyway, back to the best story on the subject.

Patricia Rice writes:

The pope spoke for about 20 minutes, asking forgiveness and speaking of his personal shame over the depraved priests who crushed the innocence of children, Horne and McDaid said.

The most dramatic moment of the gathering came when the only woman victim's turn came for her private time with Benedict, Horne said. With all the others' heads turned to give her privacy, she stood facing the standing pope. She wept as words escaped her.

"Her sounds were filled with sorrow, like an aria," said Horne. "So sorrowful, yet the sweetest sound, as if it were being exhaled. There was complete reverence around the room. No one interrupted. No one said anything like 'it's going to be all right.' Her sobs floated around the room, settled around all of us in the room. Then it was expelled. You saw the pain in Benedict's face."

Tears came to many eyes in the room, Horne said.

Do yourself a favor and read it all.