The former head of the Catholic Church Pope Benedict XVI has acknowledged errors in his handling of sexual abuse while he was Archbishop of Munich but did not directly address the allegations.
His lawyers argued that he was not directly to be blamed as much as he admitted to errors.
Benedict 94, issued a letter following the report released last month on abuse in the Archdiocese from 1945 to 2019 which included their alleged failure to take actions in those cases when he was Munich Archbishop, known as Josef Ratzinger between 1977 and 1982.
“I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. The greater is my pain for the abuses and the errors that occurred in those different places during the time of my mandate,” he wrote.
He asked for forgiveness as what Catholics do, known as confiteor at mass, that one should ask for forgiveness for what they have done and what they have failed to do.
“I have come to understand that we ourselves are drawn into this grievous fault whenever we neglect it or fail to confront it with necessary decisiveness and responsibility, as too often happened and continues to happen. Once again I can only express to all the victims of sexual abuse my profound shame my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness,” Benedict 90 wrote.
A separate analysis by four lawyers he commissioned, argued the specific allegation against the former Pope saying the investigators had mischaracterised actions and ignored facts.
Some victims said Benedict missed an opportunity for cleansing that could have helped healing despite the evidence from secular authorities.
His lawyers on the other hand had contrary argument, sharp and detailed, Benedict German letter was deeply personal couched in religious terms as he reflected on a long life approaching its end.
“Quite soon I shall find myself before the final judge of my life,”he wrote.