about the Catholic Church in America which has been rocked by child sex abuse scandals, US officials said.
"I will tell him that I am concerned about the Catholic Church’s standing," President Bush said before his talks with the Pope began. Analysts say the Catholic Church may be forced to pay hundreds of millions and possible even billions of dollars for legal costs in the coming decade.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters that during the 20 minute meeting Tuesday, President Bush and the Pope also discussed developments in Russia and the Middle East.
President Bush and his eight-member delegation were met with full honors at the Vatican for what was Mr. Bush’s second-ever meeting with the 82-year-old pontiff, reporters said.
Following their private meeting, the Pope told President Bush that he was very grateful for his visit, the Voice of America reported, adding that the pontiff "stood up from his chair to say: ‘God Bless America’."
After their talks, President Bush left Rome for Washington, completing a nearly week-long trip to Europe that included a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the signing of what has been described as a historic NATO-Russia council agreement earlier Tuesday, May 28.
The NATO summit in Rome was also attended by Hungary’s new Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy, a former Communist turned Socialist, who was installed Monday, May 27, as the country’s new Government leader.
Medgyessy has recently pledged to work with churches to improve the social and spiritual conditions in his country, where millions of people still live in poverty.
