BOB ABERNETHY, anchor: Now, our special report on Pope Benedict XVI's visit this week (April 15-20) to the U.S. Kim Lawton reports.

KIM LAWTON: The pope arrived at Andrews Air Force Base Tuesday (April 15) and was greeted by George W. Bush -- the first time this president has personally welcomed a world leader there. Experts say the gesture shows how significant this visit is on many fronts.

DAVID GIBSON (Author, "The Rule of Benedict"): Even though American Catholics are only six, seven percent of the entire Catholic global population, like America itself, the Catholic Church worldwide often follows its cues from America. So it's a really important moment in the life of the church, not only in the United States but also globally.

LAWTON: Benedict came here in a dual role -- as spiritual leader to the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics and as head of state for the independent territory of Vatican City and the Catholic Church's government called the Holy See.

During an elaborate White House ceremony Wednesday (April 17), the pope's 81st birthday, Bush praised Benedict for urging America and the world to distinguish between right and wrong.

President GEORGE W. BUSH: We need your message to reject this dictatorship of relativism and embrace a culture of justice and truth.

LAWTON: After the public ceremony, the two held a private meeting where they discussed issues including human rights and religious freedom, immigration, the Middle East peace process, and the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

Benedict continued speaking about the importance of human rights and religious freedom in his address to the United Nations in New York on Friday (April 18).

Pope BENEDICT XVI (speaking before the United Nations General Assembly): The promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups and for increasing security.

LAWTON: The UN address was Benedict's original reason for coming here, but this was also a pastoral visit to a flock, many of whose members like to go their own way.

Mr. GIBSON: And when the pope, whoever he is, comes to America, he's really reminding Catholics in the United States of the larger Catholic world out there as well as their larger responsibilities and obligations.

LAWTON: Benedict frequently praised the vitality of the American church, and he urged Catholics to continue bringing their values to the public square even amid what he called an increasingly secular and materialistic culture.

Pope BENEDICT XVI: Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted.

LAWTON: The pope also acknowledged the many challenges facing the U.S. church. He mentioned the priestly sex abuse crisis several times, including during Thursday's Mass at Nationals Park.

Pope BENEDICT XVI: No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention. Nor can I adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the church.

LAWTON: And the pope held a private meeting with a small group of victims of clergy sexual abuse to hear their stories. It's believed to be the first meeting between a pope and victims.

Aboard his plane, Shepherd One, on the way here Benedict said he was ashamed and promised that the church would work to exclude pedophiles from the priesthood. Still, victims' advocacy groups held several vigils and demonstrations during the visit. Many said while they were pleased the pope addressed the crisis, they want more action.

BARBARA BLAINE (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests): Pedophiles have always been in our church, and we believe that pedophiles will probably always fall through the cracks and make it into the priesthood in our church. What we're looking for is decisive action and discipline of those who enable and cover up for these predator priests.

LAWTON: On another issue, Benedict spoke about the growing clergy shortage. He urged U.S. bishops and the church to pray that more men would feel called to enter the priesthood.

Mr. GIBSON: You can't deny the numbers. Nobody does. Priests have really been trapped in the middle here with the decline in the number in vocations and the sexual abuse scandal. This really hammered those guys, and they're really feeling the pressure. They're getting older. They don't have a lot of younger guys coming in behind them, and people in the pews see it.

LAWTON: At a meeting with Catholic educators, Benedict stressed one of his key themes -- that faith is compatible with reason. There have been tensions between the Vatican and some Catholic institutions over the boundaries of academic freedom. Several observers had predicted a papal scolding here. The former professor did not slap any wrists, but he did say that "the great value of academic freedom does not justify promoting positions that contradict the Catholic faith."

Mr. GIBSON: He wants the Catholic identity of Catholic universities to be reinforced and to be projected even more strongly. He wants people who go to a Catholic university to know they are in a Catholic school.

LAWTON: Benedict also took time to meet with other religious leaders. Sayyid Syeed of the Islamic Society of North America greeted the pope on behalf of American Muslims. Relations between Muslims and this pope have been rocky at times, but Syeed says the channels of dialogue must stay open.

Dr. SAYYID SYEED (Secretary General, Islamic Society of North America): There have been problems. There are misunderstandings. There are misstatements, and so we have to overcome those, and we have to keep the course. Otherwise we will lose the momentum.

LAWTON: Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League was also at the meeting. He praised Benedict for reaching out, even briefly, to other faiths.

ABRAHAM FOXMAN (National Director and Chairman, Anti-Defamation League): Symbolism is tied to substance, and so a meeting with the Jewish community, a visit to a synagogue, reaching out to the interfaith community, all of it regardless of what is said inside symbolizes respects, symbolizes the importance of interfaith, and symbolizes the desire to continue a relationship.

LAWTON: Throughout the trip, comparisons with John Paul II were inevitable.

Mr. GIBSON: Benedict XVI is not as much of a showman, and that is very purposely so. It's not just the fact that he is 81 years old. He also wants to lower the profile to a degree of the pope. Benedict XVI wants to get out of the way and let the light of Christ shine through.

LAWTON: According to a new survey by the CARA Center at Georgetown University, eight in 10 U.S. Catholics say they're satisfied with Pope Benedict's leadership. But among Americans overall, only 52 percent gave Benedict a favorable rating, while 76 percent gave John Paul II a favorable rating.

Thousands turned out to greet Benedict. Many were grateful for an opportunity to get to know this pope better.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I think that people will see a more human side of him, not so much the scholar, but the man, and just a more human side.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: People have been surprised to see who he is. You can't judge a book by its cover. And to see how sweet he is and how he's not afraid to say the truth.

Mr. GIBSON: This is a real introduction of Pope Benedict XVI to the church in America. The real question coming out of that is how much will Pope Benedict XVI learn about America and the church itself?

LAWTON: For his part, Benedict says he wants his trip to be a sign of hope and renewal for the nation's Catholics.

I'm Kim Lawton reporting.