Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday lamented how some members of the clergy have "violated" the "dignity" of children, rights that the Catholic Church has "over the centuries" promoted. Benedict's made the remarks in an address to participants of an assembly of the Vatican's family affairs department. In it he also recalled the 20th anniversary of the approval of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"The Church over the centuries, following the example of Christ, has promoted the dignity and rights of children," Benedict said.
"Unfortunately, in various cases some of her members, acting against this commitment, have violated these rights; actions which the Church does not and will not fail to deplore and condemn," Benedict added.
The pontiff's words come amid a series of scandals involving sexual abuse of children by priests, including in Ireland and Germany.
Benedict did not refer to any specific incidents, but spoke of "actions which the Church does not and will not fail to deplore and condemn."
"Jesus' harsh words against those who offend one of these little ones are an admonition to everyone never to lower the level of this respect and love," he said.
Benedict has summoned Irish bishops to the Vatican for a February 15-16 meeting to discuss the child sex abuse scandal that has shaken Ireland.
The talks follow a December meeting between the pontiff and Ireland's two most senior Catholic churchmen, that took place in the wake of a shock government report which focused on the Dublin archdiocese, Ireland's biggest.
At the time Benedict said then he shared "the outrage, betrayal and shame," felt by so many of the faithful in Ireland over the "heinous crimes" catalogued in the report issued in late November.
In one case mentioned in the report, a priest admitted to sexually abusing over 100 children.
Four bishops have to date resigned following the report, which revealed that church leaders did not report abuse to police in an apparent attempt to save the church's reputation.
Reports from Germany on Saturday indicated that nearly 100 employees of the Catholic Church have been suspected of involvement is sexual abuse during the last 15 years.
The latest accusations came following revelations of abuse at four Jesuit-run schools in Germany during the 1970s and 80s.
The secretary of the German Bishops9 Conference, Hans Langendoerfer, said he was shocked by the revelations that showed "a dark face of the Church."
Langendoerfer, who is a member of the Jesuit Order said the church would "address the subject openly"
