“The extent of the abuse quagmire becomes clearer with every study. It will take more than one person, even if he is pope, to drain this swamp,” Archbishop Gänswein told the German newspaper Die Zeit.

The private secretary of Benedict XVI, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, has defended the former pope and criticised the Munich abuse report which made international headlines when it was released in January.

By listening we all walk together. Along the route of life we must encourage forgiveness but not exoneration.

When victims and survivors of sexual abuse are blamed, marginalized, stigmatized or silenced, they can be traumatized all over again. The Archdiocese of Regina is trying something new in its work with survivors.

The Vatican is hosting a three-day symposium on the Catholic priesthood amid renewed public attention on clergy sex abuse scandals involving both children and adults and fresh research into the abuses of priestly power.

Although Benedict expresses regret that abuse happened on his watch, he does not take responsibility for any specific cases, and his lawyers maintain his innocence.