Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi speaks at a March 20 briefing at the Vatican on Pope Benedict XVI's letter to Ireland's Catholics concerning the sexual abuse scandal. Father Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the pope was asking for a chance to apologize on behalf of the church and to help promote healing. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) (March 20, 2010) See ABUSE-LETTER and ABUSE-LOMBARDI March 20, 2010.