American cardinals are in Rome for extraordinary meetings with Pope John Paul II and Vatican officials, aimed at ending the crisis in the U.S. Roman Catholic Church over sexual misconduct by priests. 

The cardinals are to meet privately with the Pope Monday, before two days of formal talks begin Tuesday. 

Boston Cardinal Bernard Law, at the center of the scandal, expressed his hope that the Vatican talks will set a new course for coping with the crisis. He called the landmark meetings a "wake-up call" for the U.S. Catholic Church. 

Cardinal Law is accused of knowingly transferring pedophile priests from parish to parish rather than defrocking them. Many angry and disappointed American Catholics have demanded his resignation, but the cardinal has so far said he will not step down. 

Church officials say the cardinals will be looking to the Vatican for guidance and support on whether pedophile priests can stay in the ministry or should be dismissed. 

The American churchmen will also discuss when pedophile priests should be handed over to civilian authorities. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

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