It was perhaps inevitable that the sexual-abuse scandal in the Catholic Church has become a theme in Pope Benedict XVI's first U.S. visit.

Stories of abusive priests and child victims began making constant headlines in 2002 when the stories broke, but the issue had died down to low-grade fever for the church in the last couple of years.

During his days here, the pope has arranged an unannounced meeting with victims, talked to U.S. bishops about sex abuse, and spoke of it in broader references to the issues of public morality.

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta Wilton D. Gregory said Saturday he was glad the pope has been forward about the issue.

"I am deeply grateful the Holy Father has made this issue such a prominent part of his pastoral visit," said Gregory, who was in New York for the visit. "He understands the gravity of the situation, and the seriousness of the situation beyond the Catholic Church,"

Gregory played an important and pioneering role in 2002 in the church's abuse crisis as president of the 190-member U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He set an example by calling the abuse a crime and refusing to let priests hide behind the church. He pushed the church to deal with the issue and to begin rebuilding trust and faith.

"I hope he has offered some counsel and solace to the people he met with (the victims) and others who have been harmed," Gregory said of the pope.

"I think we have had a very good beginning, but it is only a beginning," he said.

Denise Weaver, director of the Atlanta chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said she has fielded phone calls from abuse victims in recent days.

"They want to connect with other survivors," Weaver said Saturday. "With the pope coming it has stirred up memories and they are needing support right now."

Some in the network are angry because the pope met quietly with victims hand-picked by Catholic leaders. SNAP leaders had hoped to meet with the pope.

Atlanta had few cases of abuse uncovered when compared to cities such as Boston or Chicago. A 2004 report from the archdiocese showed 25 claims of abuse by minors in Atlanta since 1950. There are none under investigation now.

Weaver said she believes there are still cases here that have not been investigated because the victims have not made them known.