**Pope Benedict XVI is meeting Germany’s top bishop for talks amid a crisis over sexual abuse of children by priests in his native country.**Bishop Robert Zollitsch is expected to put before the Pope details of accusations made in some 200 alleged cases of abuse by German priests.
Europe’s Catholic paedophile scandal now affects institutions in Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany.
The Pope has called the Irish abuse a “heinous crime” and “grave sin”.
Among the German cases are alleged abuses at a boys choir in the 1950s and 1960s.
The choir was once run by the Pope’s brother, but he has said the alleged abuse occurred before he took up his post.
The Vatican was not expected to comment on the private meeting, but Bishop Zollitsch was to due to hold a news conference.
Meanwhile, the Vatican is playing down a suggestion by the Archbishop of Vienna that the celibacy rule may have something to do with the growing number of cases of abuse by clergy coming to light.