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	Pope - No Mention of Sex Abuse Scandal Radio Netherlands April 4, 2010 http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/pope-does-not-mention-sex-abuse-scandal VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI has held Easter mass in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. During his traditional Urbi et Orbi message on Saint Peter's Square he made no mention of the widespread sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests. Every year, thousands of people attend the ceremony in which the pontiff asks God to forgive people for their sins. The pope has made no reference to the sex abuse scandal during the Easter celebrations. He did say, however, "humanity needs a spiritual and moral conversion... to emerge from a deep crisis". In a break with tradition, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, expressed his support for the pope at the beginning of the mass and said the church would not be intimidated by "petty gossip" about the sexual abuse of children by priests. Despite the turbulent period that the Roman Catholic Church is going through, Archbishop Wim Eijk of Utrecht on Tuesday was able to find time to bless the flowers that were sent to Vatican City for the traditional mass on Easter Sunday. The bishop wished the daffodils, tulips and lilies a pleasant journey and a safe arrival. The flowers are in the papal colours, yellow and white. This is the 25th time the Netherlands has supplied the flowers to decorate St Peter's Square. A total of 22,000 flowers and 1,500 plants were donated to Vatican City. During Easter mass, the pope thanked the Netherlands for the flowers, as he does every year.
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