Karl Stagno-Navarra
Alleged child abuse victims have welcomed an announcement by Vatican officials that the the possibility of Pope Benedict XVI privately meeting was ‘not excluded’ during his visit to Malta this weekend.
Speaking in Rome yesterday, Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi stressed that, “The Pope has said that he is disposed to meet (them). He did so in the past, however always under a clear discreet environment, and certainly not under the media spotlight, as it is important that such events are characterised by personal communication and listening,” Fr Lombardi said.
He said that the Pope’s programme in Malta is “very tight” however it is not to be excluded that the Pontiff decide to hold such a meeting, and should it happen, like in Sydney and Washington, the media will be informed after the suggested meeting is held.
Sex abuse victims have reacted positively to the ‘non-exclusion’ of such a meeting from the Pope’s programme.
Lawrence Grech, who is fronting the ‘Justice’ campaign in Malta over abuses he and nine other friends suffered at the hands of clergymen at St Joseph’s orphanage in Sta Venera, said that it was “good news” to hear that there is this possibility.
“Should such a meeting happen, it would mark a very important step towards some kind of closure for us, who have been seeking justice for too long,” he said, adding that the immediate response to his appeal for a meeting also with Archbishop Paul Cremona was a “positive step ahead.”
Speaking during an emotional press conference last Monday, Lawrence Grech, accompanied by other victims appealed to the President of the Republic George Abela, as Chairman of the Commission for the Aministration of Justice, and to Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano to seek answers from the court as to why a criminal case against three members of the clergy have been stalled for seven years.
Meanwhile, the abuse victims who recounted shocking stories of abuse they suffered at the hands of the clergymen belonging to the Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSSP) announced that they will not be organising any protests during Pope Benedict’s visit to Malta.
“We are Christians and our plight should not overshadow such an important event,” Lawrence Grech told MaltaToday, adding that their requests for closure to their ordeal concern the Maltese church as an institution.
“We have taken note of Archbishop Cremona’s message of repentance at the cases we have raised, but although we comment that this was a little, too late on the eve of a Papal visit, we still feel that this event is an important one for the Pope and we should not overshadow it,” Grech said.
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