During the pontificate of John Paul II, the Church got accustomed to apologising for mistakes committed decades and centuries ago.

Pope Benedict took the process a step further. He did not find it difficult to apologise for mishandling the Bishop Williamson case due to incomplete information given to him. Moreover, on March 20, Pope Benedict personally apologised to victims of priestly sexual abuse in Ireland and announced new steps to heal the wounds of the scandal, including a Vatican investigation and a year of penitential reparation.

The letter proved how unjust and untruthful are the attempts of those trying to link the Pope to cases of abusing priests or to the culture of silence which, unfortunately, was common in the Church for a very long period of time.

Readers who wish to inform themselves on the most recent attempt of The New York Times to tarnish the image of the Pope can consult www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5828. The details of the case and its background are amply explained.

It should be manifestly clear that the culture of silence has an enemy and not a friend in Pope Benedict. He is not after finding excuses or lame justifications or the shifting of responsibilities.

The Pope told priest abusers that they would answer to God for their sins and before properly constituted tribunals for their criminal acts. While emphasising the need for personal atonement he also exhorted them: "do not despair of God's mercy".

He reserved harsh words for the bishops: "It cannot be denied that some of you and your predecessors failed, at times grievously, to apply the long-established norms of Canon law to the crime of child abuse. Serious mistakes were made in responding to allegations," he said, while encouraging bishops to implement new Church norms against abuse and to cooperate with civil authorities in such cases.

Addressing the victims, Pope Benedict said: "You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry. I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured. Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated."

He noted that many victims found that, when they had the courage to denounce the abuse, "no one would listen".

"It is understandable that you find it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the Church. In her name, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel. At the same time, I ask you not to lose hope," he said.

The letter comes in the wake of a tsunami of allegations of clerical child abuse in Germany, Austria, Holland and Switzerland. Fortunately, the Church is generally reacting swiftly and openly. Independent investigations have been set up and the Pope's letter to the Irish Catholics is expected to push in the right direction those who were not quick enough to co-operate with the civil authorities on the matter.

One also hopes that the Pope's letter will help those who are still in denial mode and who blame this disaster on everyone and everything except frail Church members. It should also help those whose greatest sorrow is not that abuses have happened but that abuses are being revealed. Instead of saying mea culpa they try to blame real or conjured up media conspiracies.

It is positive to note that the local Church has for many years had very clear guidelines to combat child abuse and that our bishops and their close collaborators have repeatedly stated their attitude of zero tolerance.

joseph.borg@um.edu.mt