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Pope Benedict makes speech to UN Pope urges global unity on crises
(10 minutes later)
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has begun a speech to the United Nations in New York on the final leg of his six-day US tour. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has told the UN in New York that member states should solve the world's crises together.
He called on states to protect their people from "grave and sustained" human rights abuses or face intervention by the world community. In his speech on the final leg of his six-day US tour, he said the world was still subject to "the decisions of a few", without naming countries.
He urged states to protect their people from "grave and sustained" human rights abuses or face outside intervention.
Benedict XVI is the third pope to address the UN.Benedict XVI is the third pope to address the UN.
Earlier, in Washington DC, the Pope expressed his sympathy for victims of child abuse by Catholic clergy.
Tickets for the Pope's speech were highly sought after, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports from New York.Tickets for the Pope's speech were highly sought after, the BBC's Laura Trevelyan reports from New York.
Each country got six seats, and there was stiff competition.Each country got six seats, and there was stiff competition.
The Pope's agenda in New York, his last stop before returning to Rome, includes visiting Ground Zero and a synagogue, and celebrating Mass at Yankee Stadium.The Pope's agenda in New York, his last stop before returning to Rome, includes visiting Ground Zero and a synagogue, and celebrating Mass at Yankee Stadium.
Addressing abuseAddressing abuse
Celebrating open-air Mass at the Nationals stadium in Washington DC on Thursday, the Pope spoke of the sexual abuse of children by US Catholic clergy before talking privately to a group of people who had been abused by priests. "Every state has the primary duty to protect its own population from grave and sustained violations of human rights," the pontiff said.
POPE'S ITINERARY 15 Apr: Arrived at Andrews Air Force Base16 Apr: White House luncheon; talks with Mr Bush. Meeting with US bishops and prayer service in Washington (evening)17 Apr: Washington Mass; addressed Catholic University; interfaith meeting18 Apr: Addresses UN19 Apr: New York Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral20 Apr: Ground Zero visit; Yankee Stadium Mass In pictures: Papal MassPope's tour: Reporter's diaryLatinos welcome Pope's wordsPOPE'S ITINERARY 15 Apr: Arrived at Andrews Air Force Base16 Apr: White House luncheon; talks with Mr Bush. Meeting with US bishops and prayer service in Washington (evening)17 Apr: Washington Mass; addressed Catholic University; interfaith meeting18 Apr: Addresses UN19 Apr: New York Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral20 Apr: Ground Zero visit; Yankee Stadium Mass In pictures: Papal MassPope's tour: Reporter's diaryLatinos welcome Pope's words
Multilateral consensus, he said was "in crisis because it is still subordinated to the decisions of a few, whereas the world's problems call for interventions in the form of collective action".
Celebrating open-air Mass at the Nationals stadium in Washington DC on Thursday, the Pope spoke of the sexual abuse of children by US Catholic clergy before talking privately to a group of people who had been abused by priests.
The Pope, who was addressing 40,000 people, told the victims he would pray for them and their families.The Pope, who was addressing 40,000 people, told the victims he would pray for them and their families.
He spent 25 minutes in individual meetings with half a dozen victims, some of whom were in tears during the encounters, a spokesman said.He spent 25 minutes in individual meetings with half a dozen victims, some of whom were in tears during the encounters, a spokesman said.
During the open-air Mass, the pontiff said: "No words of mine can describe the pain and the harm inflicted by the sexual abuse of minors."During the open-air Mass, the pontiff said: "No words of mine can describe the pain and the harm inflicted by the sexual abuse of minors."
Efforts to protect children must continue, he said.Efforts to protect children must continue, he said.
The BBC's David Willey, who is travelling with the Pope during his visit, says that for the third time in as many days, the pontiff has done what many Catholics have been asking for years.The BBC's David Willey, who is travelling with the Pope during his visit, says that for the third time in as many days, the pontiff has done what many Catholics have been asking for years.
He has condemned and publicly accepted full responsibility for the crimes of sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests in the US.He has condemned and publicly accepted full responsibility for the crimes of sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests in the US.
On Wednesday, the pontiff met President George W Bush at the White House.On Wednesday, the pontiff met President George W Bush at the White House.