Pope says mass for Aussie abuse victims

SYDNEY, July 21 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI finished his Australian pilgrimage Monday by saying a private mass with victims of clergy sexual abuse, officials said.

Vatican leaders issued a statement saying the pope concluded his World Youth Day activities in Sydney by inviting "a representative group of victims" -- two men and two women -- to join senior clergy for a final mass before he left the country, The New York Times reported.

"He listened to their stories and offered them consolation," the statement said. "Assuring them of his spiritual closeness, he promised to continue to pray for them, their families and all victims."

Benedict said a similar mass for clergy abuse victims in the United States in April, the Times said. The participants in the service remained anonymous, a move that was criticized by victims' advocates. Chris MacIsaac, president of Broken Rites, said she suspected the participants were chosen because they hadn't publicly criticized the Catholic Church.

"The main reason (victims) have been ostracized is that they have chosen to speak out," she told the newspaper.