Vatican authorities emphasized that it was the pope who, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, pushed for harsher measures against abusers.
Palestinians are frustrated by excessive presence of Israeli police and numerous barricades during Holy Week.
A Vatican commission expressed the hope that bishops and priests deprived of freedom would be allowed to resume their pastoral ministry.
A German-born bishop who headed a prelature in Norway admitted that his resignation last year was linked to the sexual abuse of a minor.
Two pending federal lawsuits seek to pull the Vatican into U.S. courts over claims that it is liable for damages to victims of sexual abuse by priests
Holy Week in Pakistan this year was set against a backdrop of suicide bombings that have killed Catholic workers.
Catholic officials condemned the slayings of 10 young people in the state of Durango and suspended long-running Holy Week missionary programs.