Pope Benedict XVI arrived in the U.S. yesterday for his first overseas papal visit. During the flight he accepted to answer a few questions submitted by reporters and selected by the Vatican, amongst which the very pressing matter of the pedophile priests.

He said that he feels deeply ashamed and that the church is going to put a lot of efforts into the elimination of pedophiles from the priesthood. “It’s difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betrayed in this way their mission to give healing, to give the love of God to these children,” he was quoted saying by the New York Times. He added, “It is more important to have good priests than to have many priests.”

Starting with the year 1950, the U.S. church has paid over $2 billion in abuse settlements, most of the amount being given in the last six years and making it a huge discussion topic for the media.

At the Andrews Air Force Base, the pope was greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic spectators and President George W. Bush with his wife and daughter.

Today’s events, which happen to coincide with the pope’s 81^st birthday, include a visit at the White House and U.S. Roman Catholic bishops at a Washington basilica. The White House ceremony is expected to gather more than 9,000 people, turning it into one of the biggest arrival ceremonies ever to be held at the White House.

The papal visit made many victims of abuses, their families and friends officially express their disapproval on the matter, claiming that they do not want statements and feelings of guilt but immediate actions and notable results.