Results tagged “White House” from Religion & Ethics: The Pope's Visit

Watch a slideshow by R & E senior associate producer Patti Jette Hanley of Pope Benedict's visit to the White House on April 16.

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After President Bush's April 16 White House meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY managing editor Kim Lawton looks at how Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain continue their appeals to Catholic voters.

Producer Patti Hanley and I were on the press list to cover Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the White House this morning. (Find and follow Patti's Twitter blog on the papal visit here.)

The massive security surrounding the pope's visit meant we had to arrive at the White House more than two hours before the 10:30 a.m. event began. We waited in a long line at the press entrance on the northwest side. After being cleared through the security, we made our way up the circular driveway in front of the White House, past all the TV cameras set up to do live reports. We waited again in the briefing room, where all the White House press conferences take place. It's not a big place to begin with, and it was mobbed with reporters from all over the world. Tim Russert and Matt Lauer of NBC were hanging out nearby, as were several religion reporters we see frequently at big faith-related news events.

It was a beautifully sunny day, so we eventually wandered outside to wait in the driveway. As the time for the ceremony got closer, VIP participants were escorted past us in waves, like a parade. First came the U.S. cardinals, then the bishops. After them were the boy scouts and girl scouts, the Knights of Columbus in their full regalia. and then Catholic students in their school uniforms. After that came a wave of interfaith representatives. Among those I saw were Archbishop Demetrious, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Imam Talal Eid from the Muslim community in Boston, Protestant mainline denominational leaders, and several Jewish representatives. I was particularly interested to see a Sikh man wearing the traditional turban. Sikhs will not be attending an interfaith meeting with Pope Benedict on Thursday, April 17, because as a matter of religious conscience they refused to remove their ceremonial daggers, called kirpans. The Secret Service had demanded they do so, saying that no weapons can be so close to a visiting head of state. I wonder how they got around it for this event?

Finally, the reporters were escorted into a White House hallway and on through to the South Lawn, past some beautiful tulips in full bloom. We walked past the military honor guard and bands, then around to front and center on the lawn. It was a great position, except that it was so crowded we couldn't really see the pope or the president unless we stood on our tiptoes.

The crowd was very excited, at times yelling "Viva el Papa." Just before soprano Kathleen Battle came out to sing the Lord's Prayer, the audience spontaneously broke out singing a rendition of "Happy Birthday" to the pope. Today is his 81st birthday.

You can read the president's and the pope's remarks here.

The ceremony was brief, just about a half hour, although that was probably too long for the three girl scouts who fainted and had to be carried out of the ceremony.

After both speeches, a military choir sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." From my spot, I could see Senator Joe Lieberman waving a small U.S. flag and a small Vatican flag in time to the music. Then Kathleen Battle led the crowd in an official version of "Happy Birthday" to the pope.

Benedict and Bush went into the Oval Office for a private meeting. Their joint statement released after the meeting is here:

We fought the crowds to get out of the White House grounds and meet up with our crew, stationed along the popemobile route.

The White House has been keeping details of the pope's visit under wraps, but last week a few officials from the president's and First Lady's staff briefed reporters on some of lighter touches of their pontiff-planning. George and Laura Bush will meet Benedict at Andrews Air Force Base when he  arrives on April 15 -- something they have not done for any other head of state. Usually, world leaders are greeted with pomp and circumstance on the South Lawn, something Benedict will be treated to as well. But Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff, said the president thought the tarmac greeting showed an extra level of respect the pope deserved. The White House has also arranged for about 5,000 military family members to witness the arrival.

The South Lawn greeting will  also depart from the norm because the White House has practically thrown open  the gates. About 10,000 regular folks have been invited to watch the welcome  up close. Hagin called it a hot ticket and said volunteer and community groups  have been given priority for the event that will include speeches, a  twenty-one gun salute, a fife and drum corps performance, and some "patriotic  and religious music" from a still to be announced "vocalist" [according to this morning's Washington Post, it will be American soprano Kathleen Battle].

The crowd, some of whom will need to be at the White House for vetting three hours before Benedict is expected, shouldn't expect much intimacy with the Holy Father. There are no plans for John Paul II-esque crowd wading during either the South Lawn welcome or the Andrews arrival.

Anita McBride, chief of staff to the First Lady, said the Bushes are also well aware they'll be hosting Benedict on his 81st birthday (April 16). She said they plan to give him a "small" birthday gift and suggested the surprise might appeal to Benedict's love of music (so probably not a keepsake bobble-head).

Later on Wednesday, Benedict will meet Bush in private. No aides are even expected to be in the room. At the same time, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet nearby with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and will likely tackle heavy topics, perhaps Iraq and the status of Christian minorities. But there is no agenda for the Benedict-Bush one-on-one. Hagin said there isn't even a timetable, despite the 45-minute entry on the official schedule. "The president and the pope can talk as long as they want," he said. "Nobody's going to go in and say, 'Time's up.'" -- Janice D'Arcy, religion news associate producer, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

Banner image: REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli