Pope marks 5th anniversary of election

Pope Benedict XVI says he doesn't feel alone as he leads a "wounded and sinner" church, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano reported Monday.

The Vatican newspaper said the Pope made the comments while cardinals were marking the fifth anniversary of his election to the head of the Catholic church.

The Pope talked about the "sins of the church, reminding them that it, wounded and sinner, is experiencing, ever more, the consolation of God," the newspaper reported.

The pontiff did not directly mention the sex abuse cases that have been the focus of attention for the church.

Benedicthad just returned from a two-day trip to Malta, where he held private meetings with some abuse victims. The Pope promised the victims the church would protect children and bring priests to justice.

With reports of abuse in Europe growing, Benedict's actions in his native Germany when he was the archbishop of Munichhave come under scrutiny. Some victims have called for Benedict to take personal responsibility for abuse in the church.