ope Benedict XVI

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP):

Pope Benedict XVI said yesterday he was ''deeply ashamed'' of the clergy sexual-abuse scandal that stained the Catholic Church and would work to make sure paedophiles did not become priests.

Benedict was answering questions that were submitted in advance by reporters aboard a special Alitalia airliner as he was flying from Rome to Washington to begin his first papal pilgrimage to the United States.

''It is a great suffering for the Church in the United States and for the Church is general and for me personally that this could happen,'' Benedict said. ''It is difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betray in this way their mission ... to these children.''

''I am deeply ashamed and we will do what is possible so this cannot happen again in the future,'' the pope said.