Pope John Paul II told visiting U.S. bishops Friday that the U.S. church's painful experience in dealing with the clergy sex abuse scandal also provided it with reason for reform and renewal.
The 83-year-old pope told the bishops from Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas that as leaders of their communities, they needed to be better models and "be the first to conform" their lives to Christ and holiness.
"Our meeting is taking place at a difficult time in the history of the church in the United States," John Paul told the churchmen during a private audience, according to a copy of the pope's remarks released by the Vatican.
He said many of them had told him personally of the "pain caused by the sexual abuse scandal of the past two years and the urgent need for rebuilding confidence and promoting healing between bishops, priests and the laity."
John Paul said he remained confident in the church in America, and confident that the bishops' willingness to address "past mistakes and failures, while at the same time seeking to learn from them, will contribute greatly to this work of reconciliation and renewal."
The present moment of difficulties for the U.S. church "is also a moment of hope, that hope which does not disappoint because it is rooted in the Holy Spirit," he said.
The sex abuse scandal erupted two years ago, with dozens of reports that abusive priests had been moved from parish to parish rather than punished. Since then, 700 accused priests and deacons have been removed from Catholic dioceses. There are about 46,000 clergy in the United States.
At the height of the scandal, John Paul summoned U.S. cardinals to Rome and told them the sexual abuse of minors by priests was rightly considered a crime and an "appalling sin" before God, and that there was "no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who harm the young."