Pope condemns sexual abuse by priests

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Pope Benedict XVI urged US Catholics to renew their faith and condemned the "tragic" sexual abuse of children by priests as he celebrated Mass before tens of thousands at a baseball stadium.

The pontiff was greeted by an enthusiastic roar from the crowd of 48,000 and joyous singing by four choirs led by celebrated tenor Placido Domingo, as he arrived at the new Washington Nationals ballpark in his "pope-mobile."

The faithful began arriving before dawn at the gates of the stadium, Washington's latest shrine to baseball opened last month which was transformed into a cathedral for the pope's first public Mass of his six-day US visit.

In brilliant spring sunshine, Benedict appealed for a new spirit of evangelism among the faithful to respond...