the end of -- with a public appearance at his summer home and yet again, he did not address the sex abuse scandal. meantime, the pope's personal preacher sunday apologized for an antisematic remark. he compared the criticism of the church's handling of the scandal to antisemitism. >> reporter: pope benedict has left for his country retreat and although he did not say a word about the crisis rocking the catholic church during easter mass, a senior cardinal did mount a very vigorous defense of the pope during the ceremony. in that defense, he said the pope was the unfailing rock of the church and he told the pope the people are with you and they will not listen to what he called petty gossip.