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| Thousands celebrate US papal mass | Thousands celebrate US papal mass |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pope Benedict XVI has been celebrating an open-air mass at the Nationals stadium in Washington before more than 40,000 on the second day of his visit. | Pope Benedict XVI has been celebrating an open-air mass at the Nationals stadium in Washington before more than 40,000 on the second day of his visit. |
| He spoke of the sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic clergy in the US, saying no words of his could describe the pain and harm inflicted. | He spoke of the sexual abuse of children by Roman Catholic clergy in the US, saying no words of his could describe the pain and harm inflicted. |
| He said efforts must continue to provide "loving pastoral attention" to those who suffered. | He said efforts must continue to provide "loving pastoral attention" to those who suffered. |
| Later, the Pope will hold an inter-faith meeting. | Later, the Pope will hold an inter-faith meeting. |
| On the subject of child abuse, he said: "No words of mine can describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse." | On the subject of child abuse, he said: "No words of mine can describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse." |
| POPE'S ITINERARY 15 Apr: Arrives at Andrews Air Force Base16 Apr: White House luncheon; talks with Mr Bush. Meeting with US bishops and prayer service in Washington (evening)17 Apr: Washington Mass; addresses Catholic University; interfaith meeting18 Apr: Addresses UN19 Apr: New York Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral20 Apr: Ground Zero visit; Yankee Stadium Mass Profile: Pope Benedict XVIPope's tour: Reporter's diaryLatinos welcome Pope's words | |
| He also spoke of a time of "great promise" as the "human family in many ways draws closer together". | He also spoke of a time of "great promise" as the "human family in many ways draws closer together". |
| But at the same time he said there were worrying signs of social breakdown. | But at the same time he said there were worrying signs of social breakdown. |
| "We see clear signs of a disturbing breakdown in the very foundations of society, signs of alienation and polarisation on the part of many of our contemporaries, increased violence, a weakening of the moral sense, a coarsening of social relations, and a growing forgetfulness of Christ and God." | "We see clear signs of a disturbing breakdown in the very foundations of society, signs of alienation and polarisation on the part of many of our contemporaries, increased violence, a weakening of the moral sense, a coarsening of social relations, and a growing forgetfulness of Christ and God." |
| To cheers, he went on to speak in Spanish, reflecting the large Latino presence in the congregation. | To cheers, he went on to speak in Spanish, reflecting the large Latino presence in the congregation. |
| Gates at the Washington sports stadium opened before dawn to allow people to trickle through stringent security measures ahead of the mass at 1000 (1400 GMT). | Gates at the Washington sports stadium opened before dawn to allow people to trickle through stringent security measures ahead of the mass at 1000 (1400 GMT). |
| Among the first to arrive was Barbara Loh, who told the Associated Press agency: "I've been Catholic all my life and... my dream has always been to see the Pope." | Among the first to arrive was Barbara Loh, who told the Associated Press agency: "I've been Catholic all my life and... my dream has always been to see the Pope." |
| On Wednesday, the pontiff met President George W Bush at the White House. | On Wednesday, the pontiff met President George W Bush at the White House. |
| Speaking later to bishops, he criticised their handling of child sex scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church in the US. | Speaking later to bishops, he criticised their handling of child sex scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church in the US. |
| Controversial meeting | Controversial meeting |
| class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYPope Benedict has not done enough to move the Church past the scandalHariprasad, India class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4621">Send us your comments | |
| After the mass, the Pope is due to meet leaders from other faiths at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Centre in Washington. | After the mass, the Pope is due to meet leaders from other faiths at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Centre in Washington. |
| That gathering has attracted controversy. | That gathering has attracted controversy. |
| Sikhs have refused to attend after the secret service insisted ceremonial daggers be removed. | Sikhs have refused to attend after the secret service insisted ceremonial daggers be removed. |
| One Muslim group has also pulled out, saying the Pope's statements have given the impression that he is intolerant of Islam. | One Muslim group has also pulled out, saying the Pope's statements have given the impression that he is intolerant of Islam. |
| Other Muslim leaders said they were attending out of respect for the Catholic Church, but admitted they too had some concerns. | Other Muslim leaders said they were attending out of respect for the Catholic Church, but admitted they too had some concerns. |
| Muslims around the world were upset when the Pope in 2006 quoted a medieval text that said Islam was violent. | Muslims around the world were upset when the Pope in 2006 quoted a medieval text that said Islam was violent. |
| Relations were upset again when the Pope baptised an Egyptian Muslim known to be a fierce critic of Islam at a high-profile ceremony in the Vatican on the Easter weekend. | Relations were upset again when the Pope baptised an Egyptian Muslim known to be a fierce critic of Islam at a high-profile ceremony in the Vatican on the Easter weekend. |