President Bush has quite a birthday present for Pope Benedict XVI: at least 9,000 excited guests gathered on the White House’s South Lawn for a 21-gun salute, a famed soprano’s rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” and an emotional presidential welcome.
The pontiff turns 81 on Wednesday, the first full day of his first trip to the United States as leader of the world’s Roman Catholics. He’ll spend most of the day at the White House, only the second pope to do so and the first in 29 years.
In remarks during pomp-filled festivities that have had Washington aflutter for days, Bush was to tell the pontiff and the crowd how glad America is to have him visit – and to tell Americans they should listen to his words.
“He will hear from the president that America and the world need to hear his message that God is love, that human life is sacred, that we all must be guided by common moral law, and that we have responsibilities to care for our brothers and sisters in need, at home and across the world,” said White House press secretary Dana Perino.
Good that Bishop and Mrs Stanton are present.
From a [url=http://tinyurl.com/5nd8mp]later filed report[/url] also on “my way news”:
[blockquote] “God bless America,” said Benedict robustly, to cheers from the excited throng. [/blockquote]
Compare that with the other prominent religious leader in the news:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4443788
(sorry, I don’t care to directly quote Rev. Wright offensive language)
Maybe this is my inner Jeffersonian talking (something that does not happen very often), but I was a little uncomfortable with the level of attention given to this by the White House. I am not intricately familiar with all of the protocols for state visits, but the reality is that the Vatican is not any ordinary state. The fife and drum corps in 18th c. regalia, along with the 21 gun salute, struck me as deeply ironic. The state dinner this evening is just plain over the top.
Randall
I have a different viewpoint — I am pleased to see the level of attention given to the leader of the largest church.
I am curious as to whether our Presiding Bishop was there. Any mention of her anywhere?
Something I noticed this morning at the White House event.
President Bush “ushered” the Pope into the White House with a gentle arm on the shoulder. So it seems to be OK to randomly touch the head of the Roman Church on earth.
On the other hand, if he had laid a hand on the head of the Anglican Church on earth (Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Regina) he would have committed a MAJOR FAUX PAS. (Worse than getting 1976 and 1776 mixed up as he did.)
So, the “Vicar of Christ” can be touched, but the Queen cannot. Very interesting diplomatic protocol.
#5 It’s a guy thing. Prost!
(An Aussie PM called Keating did paw Queen Elizabeth once, on a state visit, when they were gladhanding a crowd. She had him transported for that.)