Pope Benedict XVI landed at Andrews Air Force Base today to begin his six-day visit to the United States. ABC News reports that in a rare honor, President and Mrs. Bush left the White House to greet the Pope at Andrews. This is the first official Papal visit to the U.S. since the U.S. established full diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1984. The White House website carries a Q&A with Anita McBride, chief of staff to Laura Bush, on Pope's visit this week. The Pope's publicly announced itinerary for tomorrow-- which is also Benedict's 81st birthday--encompasses a 10:30 a.m. meeting with the President a the White House, a noon "Popemobile route" and a 5:30 meeting with the bishops of the United States at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
UPDATE: Last Friday, in anticipation of the Pope's visit, President George W. Bush granted a lengthy interview (full transcript) to EWTNews. In response to the question of why he was greeting the Pope at Andresw, Bush said: "Because he is a really important figure in a lot of ways. One, he speaks for millions. Two, he doesn't come as a politician; he comes as a man of faith. And, three, that I so subscribe to his notion that ... there's right and wrong in life, that moral relativism has a danger of undermining the capacity to have more hopeful and free societies, that I want to honor his convictions, as well." [Thanks to Alliance Alert for the lead.]
