Pontiff Begins Historic Visit

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Highlights: Pope Benedict's Historic Visit to Washington

From his landing at Andrews Air Force Base to his historic first Mass in the United States, Pope Benedict XVI has been a focal point of tens of thousands of Catholics in the D.C. area.

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"We are deeply ashamed, and we will do what is possible that this cannot happen in the future," he said, speaking from the front of the main cabin. He said the church needs to act on three levels: a legal level, a pastoral level and a level at which seminaries are changed so they don't harbor pedophiles.

"I would not speak in this moment about homosexuality but pedophilia, which is a different thing," Benedict said. "We would absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry . . . because it is more important to have good priests [than] to have many priests."

As is now typical, the back and forth with reporters was carefully scripted. The 70-plus journalists on the plane were asked to submit questions several days ago, and no additional questions were taken. Such caution reflected what Americans will see during Benedict's visit: a man far more reserved than his predecessor. John Paul II used to wander through the airplane for hours talking with reporters.

It is the first journey by a pope to the United States since the clergy sex-abuse scandal rocked the U.S. Catholic Church in 2002. It has cost the U.S. Church more than $2 billion in settlements to victims of abuse and has bankrupted six dioceses.

Leaders of groups representing victims of clergy sex abuse called the pope's comments yesterday insufficient.

"Apologies and promises for reform are appropriate but inadequate," said David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. It has called for the pope to discipline bishops accused of covering for priests suspected of having abused minors. Benedict "has vast powers and opportunities to make kids safe, and yet he hasn't done it."

At Andrews yesterday, those greeting the pope included 200 church officials, 100 Bush supporters and 500 members of the Defense Department and their families. A band from Bishop McNamara High school in Forestville kept them entertained.

"This is a big, big deal for me," said Harold Gomez of Orlando, an airman first class stationed at Bolling Air Force Base. After studying for a year, he was confirmed as a Catholic on March 22.

As the pope and his party descended from the plane's white stairway, the procession presented a striking picture in front of the bright blue sky, first the pope in his white cassock, then the cardinals in black with red sashes and the bishops in magenta sashes.

Unlike John Paul II, Benedict did not kiss the ground but spread his arms.

The pope met in private with the Bushes for about 15 minutes but made no public remarks. This was the president's second meeting with Benedict, after a Vatican visit in June.

Eileen Dickey and her two children -- Jamie, who has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair, and daughter Gabrielle -- were in the front row of the risers at Andrews. The Anne Arundel County family was attending because Dickey's husband works in security at the base.

"It would be great to talk" to the pope, Gabrielle said. "But as long as I can see him, that's okay."

Staff writer Daniela Deane contributed to this report.