Pope admits priest sex scandal was mishandled

WASHINGTON — Pope Benedict XVI began the first full day of his U.S. visit being serenaded by thousands of spectators at the White House and ended it with a speech to the nation's bishops in which he admitted the sex-abuse scandal was mishandled.

With Washington in a celebratory mood, President Bush invited the pope for an elaborate ceremony on the South Lawn and then the two leaders privately discussed issues ranging from immigration to the Middle East.

Thousands filled the streets of downtown Washington as Benedict shuttled between events in the Popemobile.

Much attention was focused on the pope's speech to 350 U.S. bishops Wednesday evening. Echoing introductory remarks by Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Benedict said the sex scandal was "at times very badly handled."

"It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliations and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged," Benedict told the bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Benedict did not directly address the conduct of some bishops accused of sheltering pedophile priests from scrutiny, nor did he propose concrete steps for change. The speech was "a middle way" that likely will not satisfy all lay Catholics and abuse victims, said Stephen Pope, a professor of moral theology at Boston College.

"The issue that hasn't been dealt with here is that of accountability," Pope said.

The pope's remarks came in the middle of a long address on topics ranging from declining marriage rates to the faltering numbers of priests.

Earlier in the day, Washington turned out in force to welcome Benedict to the United States on his first official visit as pope.

As the Popemobile carried Benedict through the streets, throngs of people transformed downtown Washington into a church of sorts. Many sat in circles and played religious songs while others craned their necks, hoping for a glimpse of the pontiff.

On the South Lawn, 13,500 spectators attended an elaborate ceremony for the pontiff that included a rendition of the Lord's Prayer by Kathleen Battle and a 21-gun salute. Later, the crowd spontaneously sang "Happy Birthday" to the pope; it was his 81st birthday.

Because of his meeting with the bishops, the pope missed the state dinner in his honor; the president decided to throw the party anyway.

What did Benedict miss? The menu: morel-encrusted diver scallops, spatzle, angel-hair asparagus bisque, veal, white truffle-potato dumplings, carrots and mushrooms, lettuces and candied pumpkin seeds, squash carpaccio, pumpkin-oil vinaigrette, raspberry crisp and mint coulis.

Material from The Washington Post and The Associated Press is included in this report.