WASHINGTON — The historic visit to Washington this week by Pope Benedict XVI is a big event for millions of Americans, including President Bush and first lady Laura Bush.
The first couple will greet the pontiff as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base this afternoon, followed by a ceremony and private meeting at the White House the next day.
Then comes a final event Wednesday night in the East Room, when the Bushes will host a dinner in the pope’s honor. Only one thing will be missing: the pope.
The dinner is “in honor of his visit,” White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. “There will be leaders from the Catholic community from all over the country who are in town for that visit.”
White House aides attribute the pontiff’s absence from the dinner to a busy schedule during his first U.S. visit. Wednesday also happens to be Pope Benedict’s 81st birthday.
His scheduled events include a visit to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Wednesday afternoon, Mass at Nationals Park on Thursday morning, and a visit to Catholic University that afternoon. The pope is to fly to New York Friday morning; Vice President Dick Cheney will fly north that weekend to bid the pontiff farewell.
Benedict will be only the second pope to visit the White House. Pope John Paul II was hosted by Jimmy Carter in 1979.
Cable channel EWTN will offer full coverage of the pope’s visit on TV and online at . Comcast will show the pope’s two U.S. Masses via its On Demand service at no extra charge.
