Pope hopes U.S. trip leads to spiritual renewal

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict asked Catholics around the world on Sunday to pray for his trip to the United States, saying he hoped it would lead to a spiritual renewal of America's faithful.

"Dear brothers and sisters, I ask you all to pray for the success of my visit, so that it may be a time of spiritual renewal for all Americans," the Pontiff said, addressing the crowds in St. Peter's Square.

The German-born Pope leaves on Tuesday for a six-day trip to the United States, his first as Pontiff, with stops in Washington and New York.

He will address the United Nations, hold talks with President George W. Bush and pray at the site of the World Trade Center towers destroyed on September 11, 2001.

The pope is also expected to raise thorny issues including a sexual abuse scandal involving pedophile priests that shook the Catholic Church in the United States.

(Writing by Phil Stewart; Editing by Jon Boyle)