'Priests must guard against temptation'

Pope Benedict, facing the worst crisis of his five-year-old papacy because of a widening sexual abuse scandal, told a crowd of 200000 yesterday that priests must guard against worldly temptation.

Benedict said such tests should drive Catholics to greater spiritual fervour and stricter adherence to Church rules.

"The real enemy to fear and to fight is sin, spiritual ill, which sometimes unfortunately affects even members of the Church," the 83-year-old German pontiff told the crowd in St Peters square.

Benedict's tone marked change in the Vatican's response to the abuse scandal, which has forced the resignation of bishops in Ireland, Belgium and Germany.

In recent weeks, Vatican officials have accused the media, gays or progressives of waging a smear campaign against the Church.

However, earlier last week the Pope said during a trip to Portugal that Catholicism's greatest threat came from "sins within the Church" and he acknowledged it must seek forgiveness, though this was no substitute for justice.

"Thank you for your presence and your faith," the pope told the crowd. "Today you demonstrate the great affection and closeness of the Church and the Italian people to the pope and your priests."

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, head of the Italian bishops conference, said the Church "purified by penitence should be a place of justice and comfort for the faithful".