Pope won't meet with Mexico abuse victims

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SILAO, Mexico, March 25 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI held Sunday Mass in Mexico amid complaints from alleged victims of sexual abuse that the church had kept them from meeting with the pontiff.

An estimated 350,000 people were on hand for the service at the landmark Christ the King monument in the state of Guanajuato.

The pope flies to Cuba on Monday.

Benedict's visit to Mexico left at least some people disappointed. The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests had wanted to meet face-to-face with the pope but were not granted an audience.

Church officials said SNAP had never formally asked to meet with the pope during his visit to Mexico; however, SNAP members said they had requested a face-to-face meeting with the pope through the archbishop of Mexico City but were snubbed.

"This is not only another lie, it's another way to protect the pedophile priests that remain active," SNAP member Jesus Romero told the El Paso (Texas) Times.