The statement was one of the clearest yet from the Vatican that it wants local bishops to cooperate with civil authorities in prosecuting priests who abused children.

VOA: standard.2010.04.18

And he can tell the bishops they are kin to chimpanzees.

VOA: standard.2009.11.25

The pope made a highly unusual personal analysis of the case in a letter to Roman Catholic bishops around the globe that was made public Thursday by the Vatican.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

The Vatican says he had acted properly. Pope Benedict has spoken out publicly about the scandal in Ireland in a letter to the faithful in which he criticized Irish bishops for their handling of such cases.

VOA: standard.2010.03.28

"I think that people want their church leaders not just to say they are sorry for others, for their predecessors or other bishops or priests around the world, but to take responsibility for the entire Church."

VOA: standard.2010.03.28

On January 24, Pope Benedict lifted the excommunication of British-born Richard Williamson and three other bishops to try to heal a 20-year-old rift that began when they were thrown out of the Church for being ordained without the permission of Pope John Paul II.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

The Vatican has said that before members of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X, like the four bishops whose excommunication was lifted, can be fully readmitted into the Church it must accept the teachings of the 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council which urged respect for other religions.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

"I expect him to address the German situation as he did the Irish and I'll bet you that you'll see some kind of language that will - using very papal rhetoric, acknowledge that the way the bishops were dealing with it in 1980 or thereabouts, when he was in that role, was we now know, not the best way."

VOA: standard.2010.04.01