Lavish White House welcome planned for Pope
Talk with U.S. bishops on sex abuse to follow
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:56 AM ET
CBC News
Pope Benedict XVI will receive an elaborate White House welcome Wednesday on the first full day of his tour of the United States, in one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held in the U.S. capital.
The pontiff was met by President George W. Bush on Tuesday when he arrived at Andrews Air Force base in Maryland, his special Alitalia flight taxiing over to the reception with U.S. and Vatican flags waving from its cockpit.
Pope Benedict XVI is seen on Tuesday prior to boarding a plane bound for Washington at Rome's international airport.
(Plinio Lepri/Associated Press)
The 81-year-old head of the Roman Catholic church emerged from the aircraft smiling and waving to an enthusiastic crowd of students, church officials and worshippers who gathered to greet him in his only public appearance Tuesday.
Bush, his wife Laura Bush and their daughter, Jenna, welcomed the Pope on the tarmac in a greeting ceremony complete with military honour guards and two brass bands.
It was the first time a U.S. president had greeted a leader or dignitary of any kind at the base. Neither Bush nor the Pope spoke with reporters.
Exclude pedophiles from church: Pope
While the Catholic Church is considered strong, the Pope will face the challenge of restoring unity and faith in the wake of sex abuse scandals that have devastated the church and forced the payout of nearly $2 billion in settlements.
On Wednesday, the pontiff will meet U.S. Roman Catholic bishops at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington and will address them on the issue of abuse in the church.
Aboard the flight to Washington from Rome, Pope Benedict told reporters he was "deeply ashamed" about the sex abuse scandal, adding the church "will do whatever is possible that this does not happen in the future."
"We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry," he told reporters.
In 2004, the bishops released a statistical review that found 4,392 priests had been accused of molesting children in 10,667 cases between 1950 and 2002.
Speaking to CBC, Barbara Blaine, the head of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the Pope's words were not enough; actions were required.
"What would make a difference would be if the Holy Father would act," Blaine said, "… punish those pedophile priests and the cardinals who help them cover up.
"The Pope has such authority. With one mark of his pen, he could make children safer all over the world."
Pontiff to skip gala dinner
During his six-day stay in the U.S., the Pope will travel to just two cities — Washington and New York.
About 12,000 people are expected to gather for his official visit to the White House on Wednesday, the same day the Pope will celebrate his 81st birthday.
But he will skip a gala dinner planned for the evening, opting instead for a prayer service with American bishops. He will also celebrate mass at Washington's baseball stadium, Nationals Park.
While in New York, he will stop for prayer at Ground Zero, deliver a major address at the United Nations and celebrate mass at Yankee Stadium.
It is still unclear whether Pope Benedict will meet with any of the victims of the sex abuse scandal.
"It's a formidable challenge but he's a formidable man," said U.S. military Archbishop Timothy Broglio.
"We're obviously much more aware of the nature of this problem, of how the church has to respond to it and we're certainly much more attentive to it than we were before."
Soft spot for U.S.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, told the Associated Press in an interview last week that Pope Benedict will seek healing and reconciliation as he addresses a gathering of clergy at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral.
John Allen, who writes for the National Catholic Reporter, said he believes the Pope will offer "an expression of deep regret" for what has happened.
He added that the Pope also has a soft spot for America, unlike his predecessor, Pope John Paul II who was often critical of U.S. policy in Iraq and other areas.
"People who are expecting him to come in and go negative in one form or another I suspect are going to be disappointed," Allen said.
"I suspect the dominant note will be a deep appreciation for the religious vitality of American society," he said.
With files from the Associated Press