Apr 14, 2008 10:08 am US/Eastern
Pope Trip Disappoints Local Catholics
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithfuls gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican during his Sunday angelus prayer on April 13, 2008. The Pontiff asked the pilgrims to pray for the success of his coming trip to the United States.
Filippo Monteforte/Getty Images
Pope Benedict won't be coming to Boston on his first U.S. trip this week and that's left many local Catholics upset.
Cardinal Sean O'Malley said he's disappointed, but he told the Boston Herald that he also believes the visit will encourage American Catholics.
Benedict will visit New York and Washington on the six-day trip, which starts Tuesday. O'Malley will be spending time with Benedict throughout the trip
Boston was at the center of the clergy sex abuse scandal. Some have speculated the pope didn't want to highlight the scandal with a stop in Boston.
But O'Malley thinks the 81-year-old Benedict's age and the demands on him were bigger factors.
The Vatican has said Benedict will deliver a message of hope and seek to heal wounds from the scandal.
A group that gathered Sunday at St. James the Great Church in Wellesley, where parishioners have stood in vigil for more than 3 years, believe a papal visit to Boston would have been the best way to heal those wounds.
"I would have been glad to see the pope here," said Suzanne Hurley of The Council of Parishes.
"But I think he didn't want to be linked with what's going on here."
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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