Benefits of the Catholic church? I can't think of any in its entire history

Mark, The Hague, Netherlands

It is heartening to know that the Catholic Church, through the Pope, has asked pardon for the abuses committd by some of her ministers. But on the other hand we must thank God for having instituted the Catholic Church through Christ and put Saint Peter as the first Pope. We thank God for all the benefits mankind has received through the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church that Christ founded 2000 years ago.

Most Americans are in favour of the Pope and are aware of the good the Catholic Church is doing in the whole world. Christ will remain with his Church till the end of times.

Joe Zammit, Paola, Malta

$2 billion just to settle lawsuits! That money could have been spent in better ways to improve poor families and the homeless. What does a church do with all that money in the first place?

Heath, Cairo, EGYPT

Angela in Australia...

The Church is the people, it is the victims, a Church isnt bricks and mortor it the people who follow the faith and make up the congregation.

Simon, Northampton, UK

Why on earth could not the Pope have ordered instant excommunications of the evil and wicked perverted priests?
Many of these evildoers were long standing priests and were protected by bishops so they retain their pay and accommodation to this day.
Surely if they had been removed immediately a clear signal would have gone out to the world but alas they are still there.
"Suffer little children to come unto Me" rings somewhat hollow, Holy Father.

A. J. Quirke, Laity, Helston, Cornwall

I suspect that the figure of 10,667 people who accused priests of child sexual abuse dating from 1950 is far less than the actual figure: most of the victims will have suffered in silence.

Much of the rhetoric which comes from the Vatican concerns doing that which is "natural". It is not natural to encourage young adults to take a job which requires them to remain celibate. Many priests who have sexual urges, and who are determined to keep secret these urges, will become or remain paedophiles.

Des, Edinburgh,

It is also a great suffering for the child victims - yet still the Pope can only acknowledge the pain of his Church and himself. It is the belief that congregations are merely cannon fodder for the glory of God (or his disciples on earth, the Church) that has allowed the shelter and proliferation of these criminals over the decades.

Angela, Epping, NSW Australia

"Do you love children?"
"I told you, they dropped charges."

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan