Joseph Ratzinger in a letter commenting on the Munich abuses, in which he is accused of negligence for having done nothing from 1977 to 1982 when he was archbishop of Munich and Freising, speaks of "very great guilt" for those who commit the abuses but also for those who does not face them.
"I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church", he writes, "the greater my pain and every day I ask myself if even today I should not speak of very great guilt".
In the meetings with the victims, writes the Pope Emeritus, "I looked into the eyes the consequences of a very great guilt and I learned to understand that we ourselves are dragged into this great guilt when we neglect it or when we do not face it with the necessary decision and responsibility, as has happened and happens too often ”.
The report speaks of almost 500 abuses from 1945 to 2019, almost all the victims were between 8 and 14 years old at the time.
And Ratzinger returns to ask for "forgiveness" on behalf of the Church, considering the important roles he has held.
“As in those encounters with the victims, once again I can only express my deep shame, my great pain and my sincere request for forgiveness towards all the victims of sexual abuse. I have had great responsibilities in the Catholic Church. All the greater is my grief for the abuses and errors that occurred during the time of my mandate in the respective places. Every single case of sexual abuse is terrible and irreparable. My deep compassion goes to the victims of sexual abuse and I regret each and every case ”, reads the letter.
“I am particularly grateful for the trust, support and prayers that Pope Francis has personally expressed to me”, he also stressed.
Finally, on the accusations made against him: “I will soon find myself in front of the ultimate judge of my life. Even if in looking back on my long life I can have a lot of fright and fear, I am still with a happy heart because I firmly trust that the Lord is not only the right judge, but at the same time the friend and brother who already has he himself suffered from my shortcomings and therefore, as a judge, he is at the same time my advocate ".
“In view of the hour of judgment - he concludes - the grace of being a Christian becomes clear to me. Being a Christian gives me knowledge, moreover, friendship with the judge of my life and allows me to pass through the dark door of death with confidence ”.
(Unioneonline / L)