Pope Benedict asks for forgiveness but denies wrongdoing over child sex abuse cases

Benedict, now 94, became the first Pope in centuries to resign when he stepped down in 2013. His eight-year tenure was overshadowed by a global sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. Most recently, Benedict has been under fire over his time as Archbishop of Munich and Freising, between 1977 and 1982, after a The investigators’ findings — which have now directly implicated him in a failure to prevent and punish abuse — are threatening to wreck the reputation of the former pontiff. Despite this, Benedict also said Tuesday he is “of good cheer” as he faces “the final judge of my life,” in a personal response to the accusations leveled against him in the probe. “Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life. Even though, as I look back on my long life, I can have great reason for fear and trembling, I am nonetheless of good cheer, for I trust firmly that the Lord is not only the just judge, but also the friend and brother who himself has already suffered for my shortcomings,” the retired pope wrote in a letter released by the Vatican.Benedict again conceded that he had attended the 1980 meeting about an abusive priest, this time calling his denial to the lawyers who compiled the report an “oversight.””This error, which regrettably was verified, was not intentionally willed and I hope may be excused,” Benedict wrote.He also issued a general apology to survivors of abuse, writing: “Once again I can only express to all the victims of sexual abuse my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness.”