Victims of the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal in Malta said that they felt "restored" and at peace with the church after holding a private meeting with Pope Benedict XVI.

Eight men, now in their 30's and 40's, who were abused by clerics at St. Joseph's orphanage in the town of Santa Venera, met with Benedict on Sunday for 20 minutes, with the pontiff reportedly shedding tears during the encounter.

Lawrence Grech, who acted as a spokesman for the group, told the Times in London that the meeting had provided "peace in our hearts."

"I admire the Pope for his courage in meeting us. He was embarrassed by the failings of others. We now look forward to the end of the court case and closure of this chapter," Grech said, adding that, "after 25 years, now I can go back to church."

Joseph Magro, who had asked Benedict why he had been abused, said that he "could see the pain in [Benedict's] eyes. He said he did not know. He said the priest had betrayed his vows before God."

"I have made my peace with the church," Magro added.

A statement issued by the Vatican said that Pope Benedict "was deeply moved by their stories and expressed his shame and sorrow over what victims and their families have suffered. He prayed with them and assured them that the Church is doing, and will continue to do, all in its power to investigate allegations, to bring to justice those responsible for abuse and to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people in the future."

The victims' words of support for Benedict were a capstone to a warm reception in Malta for the pontiff, who celebrated his 83rd birthday and fifth anniversary as pope during the visit.

Cries of "Viva il papa!" were heard as Benedict greeted nearly 40,000 people on Sunday for an open-air mass in Floriana. Later in the day, over 10,000 young people flocked to a rally in Valletta, where Benedict's address was preceded by several hours of Christian rock music.

During a meeting on Saturday with Maltese President George Abela, Benedict was met by a crowd of children who sang "Happy Birthday" to the pope as he greeted them from the balcony of the presidential palace.

On Monday, a host of cardinals celebrated the fifth anniversary of Benedict's election to the papacy with a special luncheon.

The 46 officials, which included Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone and Dean of the College of Cardinals Angelo Sodano, applauded Benedict for his accomplishments and leadership in the Church, especially in the midst of the abuse scandal

Sodano, who earlier this month dismissed abuse-related allegations against Benedict as "idle chatter," told the pontiff that he was leading the Church "with great generosity" in the face of "the challenges that the modern world poses to each disciple of Christ."

Benedict in turn told the cardinals that he "very strongly, doesn't feel alone" in the midst of the abuse scandal, and that he feels he has all the cardinals near him "sharing tribulations and consolation," according to the Vatican daily newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.

The pope also spoke of the "sins of the church, reminding them that it, wounded and sinner, is experiencing, ever more, the consolation of God."

There were no demonstrations reported during the pope's 27-hour visit to Malta, despite expectations following last week's defacing of several poster's announcing Benedict's arrival.