CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush says that Pope John Paul II's funeral strengthened his belief in Christianity, a living God and in how religious faith is a lifelong journey, not a respite.

"I knew the ceremony today would be majestic, but I didn't realize how moved I would be by the service itself," Bush, a Protestant who attends a Methodist Church, said Friday aboard Air Force One en route to his Texas ranch from Rome. "Today's ceremony, I bet you, for millions of people, was a reaffirmation ... and a way to make sure doubts don't seep into your soul."

The president, discussing his faith in greater detail than usual, said: "There is no doubt in my mind there is living God. And no doubt in my mind that Lord, Christ, was sent by the Almighty. No doubt in my mind about that."

Differing with Clinton

Bush called the funeral ceremony one of the "highlights of my presidency" and differed sharply with former President Clinton's view that John Paul II left behind a "mixed legacy."

"I think John Paul II will have a clear legacy of peace, compassion and a strong legacy of setting a clear moral tone," Bush said, later asking reporters to amend his remarks to insert "excellent" to describe the legacy.

Clinton accompanied Bush on Air Force One and said John Paul II "may have a mixed legacy." The former president said "there will be debates about him. But on balance, he was a man of God, he was a consistent person."

Bush, the first sitting U.S. president to attend a pope's funeral, also discussed more-worldly matters.

Other issues

He was asked about complaints by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, that the judiciary had "run amok." Bush did not respond directly, but said, "I believe in an independent judiciary."

The president, scheduled to meet at his ranch tomorrow with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, offered renewed and pointed language intended to hold Sharon to the Middle East peace plan, known as the "road map," which includes opposition to further Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

Bush also said he was aware of widely shared concerns about his proposal to restructure Social Security with private accounts, but vowed to continue pressing Congress for legislation this year.

He dismissed recent polls that show his job-approval rating in the low-40 percent range, the worst of his presidency.

"You can find them going up and you can find them going down," he said. "You can pretty much find out what you want in polls is my point."

Bush was most expansive and reflective, though, when discussing the pope and religion. He reiterated some of his remarks in his weekly radio address yesterday.

The president made clear his admiration for John Paul II's unbreakable stands on issues such as gay marriage and abortion. "Tides of moral relativism kind of washed around him, but he stood strong as a rock," Bush said.

The pope's dedication to the church and mankind until his dying days was an "example of Christ's influence in a person's life," Bush said.

At times using language familiar to evangelicals, the president said viewing the pope's body made him feel "much more in touch with the spirit."

"I think a walk in faith constantly confronts doubt, as faith becomes more mature," he said. "And you constantly confront, you know, questions. My faith is strong. The Bible talks about, you've got to constantly stay in touch with the word of God in order to help you on the walk.

"But the Lord works in mysterious ways," he added, "and during all our life's journeys, we're enabled to see the Lord at work if our eyes are open and our hearts are open."

Details on topics other than the pope were provided by the Los Angeles Times.