Now this is genuinely surprising. John Allen reports that today Pope Benedict met privately with five victims at the Vatican embassy in Washington.

Prior to this afternoon, no pope had ever met with victims of sexual abuse by priests. That omission has been oft-cited by critics of the churchs response to the crisis as an indication that Rome and the papacy are out of touch with American realities, or in denial about the magnitude of the problem.All five victims who met with Pope Benedict today are from the Boston area, and sources told NCR that Cardinal Sean OMalley of Boston played a role in arranging their encounter with Pope Benedict. In the end, however, those sources say, it was the popes choice to take the meeting.At least some of the victims plan to make a public statement later this afternoon.

Fascinating, important, and eminently laudable.More from Michael Paulson at the Boston Globe.Update: SNAP responds...

This is a small, long-over due step forward on a very long road. We're confident the meeting was meaningful for the participants and we're grateful that these victims have had the courage to come forward and speak up. But fundamentally it won't change things. Kids need action. Catholics deserve action. Action produces reform and reform, real reform, is sorely needed in the church hierachy. Some talk is OK. A meeting is better. Decisive reform is crucial. We do vulnerable children a severe disservice if we set extraordinarily low expectations for a brilliant, experienced, powerful global leader like the Pope. In the Gospel of Luke, we're told "To whom much is given, much is expected." The Pope has been given the reins of a vast, wealthy, powerful global monarchy. He must use those reins to safeguard the vulnerable.We cannot confuse words - even sincere, eloquent ones - with deeds. The stakes are too high.