Even as 5 clergymen are suspended in Italy over sex abuse
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Pope: Priests are gifts to the world
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Even as 5 clergymen are suspended in Italy over sex abuse
The pontiff made his remarks to a packed St Peter's Square in a bid to mend bridges following a series of sex scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic church.
It is thought that the Pope was aware of the five suspensions which involved one 51-year-old priest and another four in their 60s.
Pope Benedict said, "The priest is a gift from the heart of Christ, a gift for the church and the world."
The Pope did not make any mention of the sex abuse scandal which has led to several bishops resigning.
Pope Benedict has himself been drawn into the scandal, following an allegation from when he was Archbishop of Munich in the 1980s, where he is accused of 'dragging his heels' over a known paedophile priest.
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