On the child abuse scandal

“Among the countersigns to the Gospel of life found in America and elsewhere is one that causes deep shame: the sexual abuse of minors. Many of you have spoken to me of the enormous pain that your communities have suffered when clerics have betrayed their priestly obligations and duties by such gravely immoral behaviour.”

“By acknowledging and confronting the problem when it occurs in an ecclesial setting, you can give a lead to others, since this scourge is found not only within your dioceses but in every sector of society. It calls for a determined, collective response."

"Children deserve to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships. They should be spared the degrading manifestations and the crude manipulation of sexuality so prevalent today. . . . What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?"

Bobblehead Pope gives Vatican a headache

To the dismay of the Vatican, the Pope’s trip has spawned a large range of kitsch memorabilia including a bobblehead doll

BACKGROUND

• America holds a papal birthday party

• Pope's 'shame' over paedophile priests

• The Pope in quotes during his visit to the United States

• Pope to pray for redemption of terrorists

• American Catholics must stop and listen to the Pope

BACKGROUND

• A commitment to keep faith in the public space

• Multilingual Pope calls for peace

• Vatican looks to heal 950-year Orthodox rift

• Pope to discuss influx of Anglicans

• Vatican workers promised higher reward

Multimedia

• Pictures: Pope visits America

• Best of the worst Pope memorabilia

• Popemobiles past and present

“While it must be remembered that the overwhelming majority of clergy and religious in America do outstanding work in bringing the liberating message of the Gospel to the people entrusted to their care, it is vitally important that the vulnerable always be shielded from those who would cause harm. In this regard, your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly under your pastoral care, but for all of society.”

On medical ethics

“At a time when advances in medical science bring new hope to many, they also give rise to previously unimagined ethical challenges. This makes it more important than ever to offer thorough formation in the Church's moral teaching to Catholics engaged in health care. Wise guidance is needed in all these apostolates, so that they may bear abundant fruit; if they are truly to promote the integral good of the human person, they too need to be made new in Christ our hope.”

On 9/11

“After the attack on the Twin Towers in September 2001, and again after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Americans displayed their readiness to come to the aid of their brothers and sisters in need. On the international level, the contribution made by the people of America to relief and rescue operations after the tsunami of December 2004 is a further illustration of this compassion.”

The Pope’s prayer for the victims and perpetrators of 9/11 which he will pray on Sunday

"O God of love, compassion, and healing, look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions, who gather together at this site, the scene of incredible violence and pain.

"We ask you in your goodness to give eternal light and peace to all who died here -- the heroic first-responders: our fire fighters, police officers, emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel, along with all the innocent men and women who were victims of this tragedy simply because their work or service brought them here on September 11, 2001.