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UPON ARRIVING at the papal palace, Bush was escorted past a row of Swiss Guards in red-plumed helmets and into a study where the pope stood waiting beside his desk.
Leaning on his chair for support, the frail pontiff motioned for Bush to sit on the opposite side of the desk and the president did, perching expectantly on the edge of his armchair. The pope then took his seat, adjusted his desk mat and began their private talks.
At a NATO-Russian summit before the meeting, Bush described the pope as "a man of enormous dignity and compassion," and expressed a desire to discuss alleged sexual improprieties committed by priests in the United States.
"I'm going to listen closely to what the Pope has to say," Bush said. "I will tell him that I am concerned about the Catholic Church in America, I'm concerned about its standing.
"I say that because the Catholic Church is an incredibly important institution in our country," Bush said. "I'm also going to mention the fact that I appreciate the Pope's leadership."
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PAPAL SUMMONS
Last month, the pope summoned U.S. cardinals to the Vatican to discuss the sex scandals. He condemned sexual abuse by priests as criminal, and said there is no room in the priesthood for those who engage in such behavior.
Bush's comments were his first on the matter since March, when he said he was confident the church would "clean up its business."
He backed embattled Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston, who has become a lightning rod for criticism since.


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"I respect him a lot," Bush said in March shortly after Law had given prosecutors the names of at least 80...