Chicago Area Local News

WASHINGTON (CBS) ― Pope Benedict XVI made an unprecedented move Thursday to heal wounds in America's Roman Catholic Church.

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the Pope met with a group of sex abuse victims, showing his pastors the way toward reconciliation.

The 25-minute meeting took place at the residence of the Pope's representative here, where Benedict is staying this week. It went unannounced until afterward by his spokesperson, who said there were tears and prayers.

"They prayed with the Holy Father who afterwards listened to their personal accounts and offered them words of encouragement and hope," said chief Vatican spokesperson Frederico Lombardi.

The two men who met with the Pope are both abuse victims and advocates for survivors of abuse.

One, Bernie McDaid, told National Public Radio he told the Pope, "Holy Father you have a cancer in your flock and you have to do more."

He said Pope Benedict acknowledged him with a nod and thanked him.

The other described the meeting as emotional.

"I don't want to sound like a cliché or scripted, but it was a moment of hope," said Olan Horne.

The Pope met with the victims after leaving a huge mass at Nationals Stadium, where once again, he expressed his remorse over the scandal.

"[I] don't have the words to describe the harm and pain inflicted by such abuse," he said Thursday.

Later in the day, after he'd met with Catholic educators, the president of Chicago's DePaul University called the Pope's words and actions encouraging.

"The church is working hard to try and make itself a place where everyone is safe, especially children, and it's powerful when the person in charge leads the way," said Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider.

But while some support groups called the Pope's meeting with survivors a welcome first step, Chicago activist Barbara Blaine of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) wasn't convinced.

"Meeting with victims is a kind gesture, but it won't protect children," Blaine aid.

But in his comments already this week, the Pope expressed deep remorse, cited bishops for mishandling the crisis and promised to do better. His candor was surprising to some, but not to Francis Cardinal George.

"We asked him several months ago to do this, and I think he was eager to do it," Cardinal George said.

The meeting came after a mass where the Pope once again addressed the issue before a huge audience.

The Pope entered Nationals Stadium Thursday morning to the cheers of 50,000 of the faithful. He waved from the Popemobile on the still, sun-spalshed, warm spring day. Hours earlier with much less fanfare, Chicagoans arrived to play their roles in the historic event.

John Angotti, artist in residence at St. Thomas the Apostle in Naperville, sand as the crowd filed in.

"It was a little cold this morning, like Chicago, ya know," Angotti said. "Just got up there, said a little prayer and let 'er rip.

Volunteer Keiran Lenhop of Aurora worked the crowd.

"I'm just fortunate to be able to help out," Lenhop said.

Chicago priest Father Jerry Boland, prepared to celebrate the mass with hundreds of others.

And Stan Mikita, the Blackhawks legend took his seat in the nosebleed section of the ballpark assigned to Chicago guests.

Tom Dwyer, a permanent deacon from Oak Park, was one of many who served communion Thursday. He thought the Pope's comments were right on the mark.

"I think hitting it head on in the homily; I was a little surprised he did it in the homily but it was a good thing, sending a message to America and the world," Dwyer said.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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