For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 11, 2008

Event Backgrounder: The Visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the White House

White House News

BACKGROUND

The President and Mrs. Bush will welcome His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to our Nation’s Capital on April 15-18, 2008. This is the first visit of His Holiness to the United States since he became Pope.  Pope Benedict XVI is only the second Pontiff to visit The White House.  His Holiness Pope John Paul II was welcomed to The White House by President Jimmy Carter on October 6, 1979.

On April 15, 2008, the President and Mrs. Bush will participate in an Arrival Ceremony for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

On April 16, 2008, the President and Mrs. Bush will welcome His Holiness to The White House in an Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn followed by a meeting between the President and His Holiness in the Oval Office.  Later that evening, the President and Mrs. Bush will host a dinner for Catholic leaders and friends in Honor of the Visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in the East Room of The White House.

SEQUENCE OF EVENTS

Arrival Ceremony for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

Andrews Air Force Base

April 15, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. EDT

• The President and Mrs. Bush arrive at Andrews Air Force Base and participate in an Arrival Ceremony (OPEN PRESS).

• The President and Mrs. Bush participate in a Greeting with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (CLOSED PRESS).

South Lawn Arrival Ceremony for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

South Lawn, The White House

April 16, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. EDT

• His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI arrives on the South Lawn and is greeted by the President and Mrs. Bush.

• The President introduces His Holiness to U.S. Delegation members including the Vice President, Mrs. Lynne Cheney, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See.

• The Marine Band performs the National Anthem of the Holy See.  There will be a simultaneous 21-gun salute followed by the playing of the National Anthem of the United States of America.

• Kathleen Battle performs “The Lord’s Prayer.”

• The President delivers remarks.

• His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI delivers remarks.

• U.S. Army Chorus performs “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

The President Meets with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

Oval Office, The White House

April 16, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. EDT

• Following the ceremony, the President and His Holiness walk along the Rose Garden Colonnade to the Oval Office (POOL COVERAGE).

• The President and His Holiness participate in a Meeting in the Oval Office (STILLS AT TOP).

• At 12:05 p.m., His Holiness departs the South Lawn aboard the Popemobile and heads west on Pennsylvania Avenue.

IMPORTANT FACTS

• The President and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI first met at the Vatican on June 9, 2007.

• Mrs. Bush and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI previously met at the Vatican on February 9, 2006 and June 9, 2007.

• There will be between 9-12,000 visitors on The White House South Lawn to welcome His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.  Guests will include Catholic clergy, ecumenical representatives, local Catholic school children, and members of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sisters of the Poor and the Knights of Columbus.

• Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate his 81^st birthday on April 16, 2008.

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