SYDNEY — Pope Benedict XVI offered a historic full apology for child sex abuse by predatory priests Saturday, saying he was "deeply sorry" and calling for those guilty of the "evil" to be punished.

The pope strayed from a prepared speech to express shame and make his first direct and explicit apology to victims of predatory clergymen in Australia, during a mass attended by local bishops, priests and novices.
His remarks in a homily in Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral were the strongest he has used in confronting the scourge which has rocked the Catholic church globally.

"Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of young by my clergy and religious in this country," Benedict told the gathering.

Diverting from the text of his prepared homily which had been made available to journalists a couple of hours earlier, the pontiff said: "I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that, as their pastor, I too am guilty of this."