Tdt:The Pope met with President Bush yesterday - je 17.04.2008

The Pope met with President Bush yesterday, indeed Bush even made the unusual ges ture of receiving him at the airport. Will the pontiff nonetheless be looking to distance the Vatican from this Administration and its policies? The Pope has expressed deep shame about the sexual abuse of children by priests. Will such words be enough to placate American Catholics deeply distressed by the scandal? America is a religious country but there is nonetheless a dearth of priests -- why is that and what if anything can the Pope do about it? Faith has been on the political agenda lately as well -- will the election controversies pose a challenge for the pontiff?