Pope Benedict XVI arrived in the U.S. for the first time Tuesday, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. President Bush greeted him, the first time an American president has greeted a world dignitary on arrival at Andrews.

The pope wasted no time in scandal which embarrassed and demoralized so many of us who were so proud of our church. The Pope said that he is deeply ashamed and has been personally affected this horrendous revelation. “It’s difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betrayed in this way their mission to give healing, to give the love of God to these children,” the pope said, adding that the church would work to exclude pedophiles from the priesthood. He also said that he would not speak to the issue of homosexuality because it is a totally different subject than pedophilia.

I am glad to see that he is willing to speak so directly to probably one of the most humiliating and difficult issues the church has had to face. And I think the coverage of the Pope has been surprisingly unbiased. Read the wonderful article in the April 14 issue of TIME magazine featuring pope Benedict on the cover. This Pope has been criticised since the day he took office. Most of the criticism seems to be centered on his life before becoming pontiff, his time in the German army and especially as the Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, defender of the doctrine of the faith and “catholic family values”. Well say what you will about him, he is well respected for his intellect, speaking fluently English, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian, knowledge of Portuguese and Polish, and knows Ancient Hebrew, Greek and Latin. Just to point out one aspect of his intellectual prowess.

He has visited here many times before he became Benedict XVI and loves America. He has great respect for the American bishops. He feels that Americans are involved in addressing directly the issues in theology. He is said to appreciate forthrightness. Most people who follow Vatican affairs feel they know this Pope: His strong statement on birth control, abortion, and homosexuality, his condemnation of the war in Iraq, and capital punishment. And his concern for immigrants separated from their families, social justice, the environment and global warming.

Please comment: on what you feel about the Pope, the sexual abuse crisis which has bankrupted many dioceses, and the future of the Church. Are their issues you hope the Pope will address?

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