NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press Writer
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday he hopes his upcoming letter to the Irish faithful on the sex abuse scandal in Ireland’s Catholic Church helps with “repentance, healing and renewal.”
Benedict told his weekly general audience Wednesday that he would sign the pastoral letter Friday and would send it to the faithful soon thereafter.
Speaking in English, Benedict acknowledged the Irish church had been “severely shaken” as a result of the crisis, and said he was “deeply concerned.”