VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II said he was "deeply grieved" by news of clerical sexual abuse in the United States and expressed his "profound sense of solidarity and concern" to the victims and their families.

"There is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young," he told 14 top U.S. churchmen -- 12 of them cardinals -- and eight top Vatican officials April 23 during their two-day meeting to discuss the crisis.

The pope addressed the group at the end of their first morning session, which was led by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state.

Pope John Paul said that he, like the U.S. bishops, has been "deeply grieved by the fact that priests and religious, whose vocation it is to help people live holy lives in the sight of God, have themselves caused such suffering and scandal to the young."

The pope also said he was aware that "the great harm done by some priests and religious" has caused the church as a whole to be "viewed with distrust" and many bishops to be criticized for the way they have handled the scandal.

"The abuse which has caused this crisis is by every standard wrong and rightly considered a crime by society; it is also an appalling sin in the eyes of God," he said.

With the assistance of the Vatican, the U.S. bishops are looking at ways to ensure "that such mistakes are not repeated," he said.

Pope John Paul said it was clear that sometimes bishops made mistakes although they acted in good faith, following the advice of "clinical experts" who said a priest guilty of sexual abuse in the past no longer was a risk.

Despite the mistakes and the scandal connected with the reassignment of priests who went on to abuse others, the Catholic Church cannot forget its faith in the possibility of conversion, "that radical decision to turn away from sin and back to God, which reaches to the depths of a person's soul and can work extraordinary change," he said.

Pope John Paul also emphasized his admiration for U.S. Catholic clergy and religious as a whole, who have accomplished and continue to accomplish so much good for so many people in the country.

"A great work of art may be blemished, but its beauty remains; and this is a truth which any intellectually honest critic will recognize," the pope said.

The U.S. bishops, he said, must make it clear to all that their first concern is "the spiritual good of souls" and "genuine pastoral charity for the victims."

"So much pain, so much sorrow must lead to a holier priesthood, a holier episcopate and a holier church," he said.

The entire church, the pope said, must turn first to God "for forgiveness, for healing and for the grace to meet this challenge with uncompromising courage and harmony of purpose."

"We must be confident that this time of trial will bring a purification of the entire Catholic community, a purification that is urgently needed if the church is to preach more effectively the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its liberating force," he said.

"Now you must ensure that where sin increased, grace will all the more abound," the pope said.

Pope John Paul also told the Vatican and U.S. officials that he believes abuse of the young is a crisis affecting the entire society, not just the Catholic Church.

"It is a deep-seated crisis of sexual morality, even of human relationships, and its prime victims are the family and the young," he said.

Cardinal Sodano, opening the meeting, told participants, "This is a distressing time for the church and for all of us."

Yet, he said, the U.S. bishops and the Vatican officials must act together for the good of the entire church.

"Our task is to reflect on the problems of the present moment with great openness of spirit, knowing that the church should be transparent," he said.