'Spontaneous' Masses Back Benedict

Tens of thousands of balloon- and banner-toting faithful overflowed St. Peter's Square today in a massive show of solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI over the clerical sex abuse scandal. Benedict said he was comforted by such a "beautiful and spontaneous show of faith and solidarity"—organized by 68 Italian lay groups—and again denounced what he called the "sin" that has infected the church.

Banners hung on Bernini's colonnade encircling the piazza read "Together with the pope," and "Don't be afraid, Jesus won out over evil." Such large crowds are usually reserved for major holiday Masses and canonizations, and the crowd interrupted Benedict frequently with applause and shouts of "Benedetto!" and Benedict himself strayed from his prepared remarks to thank them again and again.