As difficult as it was, Pope Benedict XVI's face-to-face meeting last week with victims of clergy abuse was an important step in the right direction.

During what's believed to be the first such meeting between a pope and people abused by priests, Benedict listened to and prayed with the victims. Those involved in the meeting understandably were moved, some to tears, by the pope's willingness to make a priority of addressing the horrific acts of U.S. priests in past decades.

Since 1950, more than 4,000 priests in the United States have been accused of molesting minors. Since news of the clergy sex scandal erupted in 2002 in Boston and spread throughout the nation, the Catholic Church has been involved in numerous apologies and more than $2 billion in payouts to victims.

Sadly, the revelations of abuse also tainted the positive work of the many good Catholic priests, a number of whom felt so disgraced that they chose not to wear their collars in public.

Such reforms as zero tolerance of abusers have been welcome signs of progress. A Vatican official recently said the church is considering other changes, including revising church law so predators could be more easily removed.

Meanwhile, Benedict was right to acknowledge the deep hurt in the United States during his historic visit. The pope also addressed the issue during a speech before a crowd of 3,000, mostly priests and nuns, in more proof that he has made purifying the priesthood a priority as he goes about his mission of affirming traditional Catholic teachings and practices.

Benedict's decision to reach out to victims, and make the problem a centerpiece of his visit was a powerful and important step toward healing. But that effort shouldn't end there.

If there is to be real recovery, the church must explain years of deliberate cover-up and attempts to silence victims of crimes that involved not only pedophile priests, but also bishops and others in the church hierarchy who chose to look the other way.

Only then will the Roman Catholic Church and its followers be able to move past a painful chapter in church and U.S. history.