The president made the unprecedented gesture of greeting the Pope's plane Pope Benedict XVI has received an unprecedented presidential greeting from George W Bush after arriving for his first official visit to the US. Mr Bush and his wife Laura were waiting on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base when the Pontiff's plane touched down. During his six-day visit, the head of the Catholic Church will address the UN and lead prayers at Ground Zero. Before arriving the Pope told reporters on board his plane that he was "deeply ashamed" of sexual abuse by US clergy. Pope Benedict, who was elected three years ago, vowed to work against a recurrence of the crisis, which tarnished the Church's reputation, saying "we will absolutely exclude paedophiles from the sacred ministry". In recent years, the US Catholic Church, which has around 65 million followers, has paid $2bn (£1bn) to settle clergy sexual abuse cases. The BBC's David Willey, who is travelling with the Pope, says that damage limitation over past scandals is not the main purpose of the Pontiff's first trip to the US though. Our correspondent says he wants to deliver a message of Christian hope to American Catholics and non-Catholics alike, describing his journey as a pilgrimage to a "great people and a great country". Pilgrimage Hundreds of spectators had turned out for Pope Benedict's arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, near Washington. The crowds cheered and clapped as he made his way onto the runway to be met by Mr Bush, his wife Laura and daughter Jenna. On Wednesday, the Pope will pay a formal call upon Mr Bush at the White House.
It is more important to have good priests than many priests
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope's tour: Reporter's diary Latinos welcome Pope's words During the flight from Italy, he said he would talk to Mr Bush about the plight of some Hispanic immigrants in the US, our correspondent says. The US Church has been changing in recent years with the arrival of millions of new Latino immigrants. The Pope also paid tribute to the fact that there was no state religion in the US, adding that a secular state where all religions can be welcomed is a positive model from which Europe can learn, our correspondent adds. During the visit the Pope is due to celebrate two huge Masses at baseball stadiums in Washington and New York, as well as praying at Ground Zero, the New York site where the World Trade Centre was destroyed on 11 September 2001. Birthday dinner Although there have been 24 previous meetings between a sitting US president and a Pope - and Benedict XVI's predecessor, John Paul II, visited the White House in 1979 - there will be numerous firsts during this visit. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement A crowd expected to number 10,000 will gather on the White House's South Lawn on Wednesday to mark his official arrival. The unprecedented crowd, even larger than the 7,000 who greeted Queen Elizabeth II during a 2007 visit, will hear the anthems of both the US and the Holy See, as well as a 21-gun salute. Mr Bush is due to host a lavish dinner in the White House's East Room to mark Pope Benedict's 81st birthday on Wednesday. The meal's Bavarian-style menu will celebrate the Pope's German heritage, although the Pontiff himself is unable to attend. Instead, he is expected to lead US bishops in a prayer service in Washington. The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says the theologically conservative Pope may get a warmer reception for his views in the US than in Europe. Mr Bush is close to the Pontiff in opposing abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research. But the two differ on issues including the war in Iraq and capital punishment, both of which the Vatican has opposed. Personal suffering On board his flight to Washington, the Pope briefed reporters on his handling of the clerical sex-abuse crisis. The sexual abuse by clergy had been a great suffering for the US Catholic Church and for him personally, he said. "I am deeply ashamed and will do whatever is possible so that this does not happen in the future," he said. "It is more important to have good priests than many priests. We will do everything possible to heal this wound." The Pope has been asked to meet some victims of clerical abuse and their families during his visit but has so far declined to do so.
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Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the crowd upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, April 15, 2008.
Pope Benedict XVI began his visit to the United States on Tuesday. In an unprecedented gesture, he was greeted by President George W. Bush, Laura Bush and their daughter Jenna, upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Today, which is also the Pope's 81st birthday, Benedict XVI visited the White House and more than 9,000 people with tickets were there to see him speak. This makes it "one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House," according to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. An estimated additional 4,000 people without tickets lined the streets.
Benedict XVI addresses the gathered crowd today at the South Lawn.
The Pope was given a 21-gun salute and greeted by President Bush on the South Lawn of the White House. Benedict XVI addressed the crowd in a short speech. He appealed for support "for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress."

He further said, "As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society." Benedict said he has "great respect for this vast pluralistic society" and ended his speech with "God bless America."

Kevin Waymel, 26, travelled from San Francisco with 80 others to see the Pope. He told ''The Guardian'' that he had "come to show support for the Holy Father," and credited his faith for getting him off drugs.
Laura Bush present a birthday cake to Benedict XVI.
Afterwards, inside the White House, the first couple presented the Pope with a birthday cake. In a private meeting with Bush, Benedict XVI brought up his concerns about the Iraq war and the treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States, who may number as many as 20 million. Most of these are from Latin America and therefore overwhelmingly Catholic.

After the meeting, Benedict XVI rode along Pennsylvania Avenue in the popemobile with throngs of people lining the street.

Wednesday evening, the Pope met with US bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He addressed the bishops about sexual abuse by the clergy, which the Pope has said made him "deeply ashamed." The US Catholic Church has paid out an estimated US$2 billion to settle abuse cases in recent years.

Bendict XVI told the gathered bishops that the sex abuse scandal had at times been mishandled and urged them to reach out to the victims.
Children along Pennsylvania Avenue wait for the popemobile to pass before them.
"It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged," the Pope said.

Some victims had hoped the Pope would have critcised bishops for transferring pedophile priests from parish to parish. He did not go that far and instead praised training programs for priests and lay people who deal with children. "In this regard your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly under your pastoral care, but for all of society," said Benedict XVI.
Benedict XVI passes the White House in the popemobile
"It's the closest the Pope has come to saying that the bishops didn't do their job right. I think that's quite significant," said the Reverend Thomas J. Reese, a Jesuit priest and author.

Prior to his arrival, hundreds of people were already gathered outside the Basilica as Benedict XVI arrived. "I'm really excited," said an unnamed onlooker to NY1. "It's like a dream, almost. There are, like, other foreign dignitaries, and then there's the pope. It's a unique experience and I can't wait to see him."

During his flight to the United States, Benedict XVI told reporters that he intended to discuss poverty and development aid to poor countries with President Bush. "The United States has to help these countries develop. It is in the interest of everyone, not only these countries but of the world and particularly of the United States," he said.

This is the first Papal visit to the United States by Benedict XVI, and the first visit of a Pope to the U.S. since John Paul II's visit in 1999. The pope scheduled to stay in Washington through Thursday. After that, he will travel to New York City where he plans to address the United Nations, visit the World Trade Center site, and celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium.