Lisbon , Portugal -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Pope Benedict XVI made one of his strongest statements to date on the sex abuse scandal sweeping the Roman Catholic Church , saying Tuesday the reality he has seen is `` terrifying . '' And he distanced himself from criticism of the media by senior Vatican officials , saying the most important attacks on the church do n't come from the outside , they come from the sins of the members of the church , CNN senior Vatican analyst John Allen said . Benedict was speaking on his plane en route to Portugal , where he is making a four-day visit . He has said very little in public about the scandal , which has swept Western Europe this year , leading bishops to quit or offer to quit in Ireland , Germany and Belgium . Hundreds of people have come forward this year saying they were abused by priests or other Catholic authority figures there and in Austria , Netherlands and the United States . He said three weeks ago he was `` greatly moved '' by meeting victims of abuse in Valletta , Malta . He said he gave the victims `` assurances of the church 's action '' after the April 18 meeting . It is not clear if he plans to meet victims of abuse in Portugal , which has not been as badly shaken by the scandal as many other European countries .
Where do the most serious attacks come from ?
the sins of the members of the church
and he distanced himself from criticism of the media by senior vatican officials , saying the most important attacks on the church do n't come from the outside , they come from the sins of the members of the church , cnn senior vatican analyst john allen said .
where do the most serious attacks come from ?
WHERE ARE THE MOST SERIOUS ATTACKS COME FROM 