Pope Benedict XVI looks down as he celebrates the First Vespers on the occasion of the first week of Advent in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican November 28, 2009. Reuters Pictures logo Reuters Pictures 3 months ago

Pope Benedict XVI looks down as he celebrates the First Vespers on the occasion of the first week of Advent in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican November 28, 2009.

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  1. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi speaks during a press conference after Pope Benedict XVI released a letter addressing sex abuse by priests on March 20, 2010 at The Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.
  2. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 20: A friar holds a copy of the pastoral letter, prepared by Pope Benedict XVI and addressed to Irish catholics, in St. Peters Square after it was made available by the Holy See Press office on March 20, 2010 in Vatican City, Vatican. The letter is a response from the pontiff to revelations that paedophilia had been instigated over many years by priests within the Irish clergy.
  3. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 20: A friar holds a copy of the pastoral letter, prepared by Pope Benedict XVI and addressed to Irish catholics, in St. Peters Square after it was made available by the Holy See Press office on March 20, 2010 in Vatican City, Vatican. The letter is a response from the pontiff to revelations that paedophilia had been instigated over many years by priests within the Irish clergy.
  4. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi (R) speaks during a press conference after Pope Benedict XVI released a letter addressing sex abuse by priests on March 20, 2010 at The Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.
  5. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi speaks during a press conference after Pope Benedict XVI released a letter addressing sex abuse by priests on March 20, 2010 at The Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.
  6. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 20: A copy of the pastoral letter, prepared by Pope Benedict XVI and addressed to Irish catholics, is displayed in St. Peters Square after it was made available by the Holy See Press office on March 20, 2010 in Vatican City, Vatican. The letter is a response from the pontiff to revelations that paedophilia had been instigated over many years by priests within the Irish clergy.
  7. A journalist displays Pope Benedict XVI's letter addressing sex abuse by priests on March 20, 2010 at St Peter's suqare at The Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.
  8. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 20: A friar holds a copy of the pastoral letter, prepared by Pope Benedict XVI and addressed to Irish catholics, in St. Peters Square after it was made available by the Holy See Press office on March 20, 2010 in Vatican City, Vatican. The letter is a response from the pontiff to revelations that paedophilia had been insigated over many years by priests within the Irish clergy.
  9. A journalist reads Pope Benedict XVI's letter addressing sex abuse by priests on March 20, 2010 in Rome, outside The Vatican (at background is St Peter's Basilica). Pope Benedict XVI expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.
  10. Journalists read Pope Benedict XVI's letter addressing sex abuse by priests during a press conference by Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi (background) on March 20, 2010 at The Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.
  11. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi speaks during a press conference after Pope Benedict XVI released a letter addressing sex abuse by priests on March 20, 2010 at The Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.
  12. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi speaks during a press conference after Pope Benedict XVI released a letter addressing sex abuse by priests on March 20, 2010 at The Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.
  13. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 20: An accreditated journalist to the Vatican takes a copy of the pastoral letter prepared by Pope Benedict XVI and addressed to Irish catholics delivered this morning from the Holy See Press office on March 20, 2010 in Vatican City, Vatican. The letter is a response from the pontiff to revelations that paedophilia had been insigated over many years by priests within the Irish clergy.
  14. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 20: An accreditated journalist to the Vatican takes a copy of the pastoral letter prepared by Pope Benedict XVI and addressed to Irish catholics delivered this morning from the Holy See Press office on March 20, 2010 in Vatican City, Vatican. The letter is a response from the pontiff to revelations that paedophilia had been insigated over many years by priests within the Irish clergy.
  15. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 20: An accreditated journalist to the Vatican takes a copy of the pastoral letter prepared by Pope Benedict XVI and addressed to Irish catholics delivered this morning from the Holy See Press office on March 20, 2010 in Vatican City, Vatican. The letter is a response from the pontiff to revelations that paedophilia had been insigated over many years by priests within the Irish clergy.
  16. A journalist reads Pope Benedict XVI's letter addressing sex abuse by priests on March 20, 2010 in Rome, outside The Vatican (at background is St Peter's Basilica). Pope Benedict XVI expressed in a letter 'shame and remorse' for episodes of child sex abuse, saying 'serious mistakes' were made by Irish bishops in responding to allegations.

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