For those of us who witnessed the Dalai Lama’s heartfelt and inspiring speech on compassion earlier this week, it’s apparent that a more appropriate title for the Nobel Peace Prize winner and spiritual leader would be “His Happiness.”

Between encouraging statements that promoted education and civic responsibility were hearty laughs of sincere enjoyment and enthusiasm. Despite the war, violence and hatred he recognized in the world today, it seemed nothing could bring His Holiness down.

Yet there’s another spiritual leader visiting the United States this week that began his visit on a different, if not polar opposite, note. Before arriving in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI made comments that were not only negative but also selfish.

While aboard a private plane, the pope referred to the child sex abuse scandal in the U.S. Catholic church as “a great suffering for the church in the United States and for the Church in general and for me personally.”

Obviously a scandal of that magnitude would be a travesty for any institution, but particularly for one that preaches respect, kindness and abstinence to its followers. What’s more embarrassing to me is his disregard of those who have really suffered in these cases: the victims.

By failing to acknowledge the pain this scandal has brought many of those directly affected by it, the pope missed the point of compassion. He lacked the empathy a leader should have for the traumatized members of his faith, most likely because he doesn’t reach out to them. Benedict is conveniently skipping a trip to Boston, where the archdiocese has closed parishes and schools due to financial struggles after paying settlements to numerous victims. New York, where the pope is stopping later this week, is a five-hour drive (or a one-hour plane ride) from Boston.

In light of the Dalai Lama’s visit, Benedict’s attitude is particularly irking, as Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha preached parallel lessons. Both encouraged their followers to love their enemies, maintain truth and choose spirituality over wealth, among other teachings. Shouldn’t the pope and the Dalai Lama also teach in a similar fashion? While the religions’ traditions differ and should be maintained, their teachings, which are the foundation of any faith, have the potential to cross paths.

But now I find myself more inspired by the leader of a religion I know little about, rather than the one I grew up practicing, because he shows compassion, another concept both Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha preached.

It’s upsetting to see the Catholic Church’s most prominent spiritual leader look only at the ramifications of the sex abuse scandal at such a conceited level. Especially after viewing His Holiness’ humility and gratitude, I’m disappointed in Benedict’s lack of compassion.

So much for the Good Samaritan.

[Reach columnist Meghan Peters at opinion@thedaily.washington.edu.]