THE POPE IN AMERICA

by RAY FLEMING
THE transformation of Pope Benedict XVI from the rather forbidding and inflexible figure of his early days as Pontiff to the smiling crowd-pleaser we have seen during his visit to the United States is remarkable. His charismatic predecessor also knew how to work a crowd but he did it differently and with an evident humility; Pope Bendict's appeal has been of dignified authority. His achievement has been the more noteworthy because beyond the expected religious content of his visit he has also consistently delivered a stern message to his American Church about the scandal of the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests. On at least three occasions, the Pope has condemned the actions of priests who abused youngsters over decades. When celebrating Mass with 215 bishops for a congregation of 46'000 on Thursday he delivered a homily that dwelled at length on the scandal. On another occasion, and for the first time, he expressed his regret to a congregation of lay Catholics. Comment in the United States on the Pope's visit has not spared the Church. There is still a widespread feeling in America that the Church has somehow evaded due punishment for the 4'000 priests across the decades who committed abuse and for the Bishops who may have turned a blind eye to what was happening. This week the Pope has left no doubt about the severity of views on the matter.