Pope Speaks on Hope for Healing

Like a musician on tour, Pope Benedict XVI is playing the songs from his most recent CD. From a stage-like altar in Nationals Park, he spoke at length about hope – a reprise of his encyclical, Spe Salvi, or "Saved by Hope."

"Americans have always been a people of hope," he said. "… And the Christian virtue of hope - the hope poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, the hope which supernaturally purifies and corrects our aspirations by focusing them on the Lord and his saving plan - that hope has also marked, and continues to mark, the life of the Catholic community in this country."

And then the pope returned, for the third time in his journey, to speaking about the clergy sexual abuse scandal. "It is in the context of this hope born of God's love and fidelity that I acknowledge the pain which the Church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors," he said. "No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention. Nor can I adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the Church."

The pope applied his lofty ideals directly to the American church’s grittiest scandal – a move to heal wounds that are an obstacle to the church’s mission. He enlisted lay Catholics in this healing process:

"Yesterday I spoke with your bishops about this," he said. "Today I encourage each of you to do what you can to foster healing and reconciliation, and to assist those who have been hurt. Also, I ask you to love your priests, and to affirm them in the excellent work that they do. And above all, pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out his gifts upon the Church, the gifts that lead to conversion, forgiveness and growth in holiness."

Photo: Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass at Nationals Park. Getty.