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Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI Visit to the
United States Begins

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                 Wednesday, April 16, 2008







                Pope Acknowledges the crowd at the Airport


Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the crowd upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force
Base, Maryland, April 15, 2008.Pope Benedict XVI began his visit to the United
States on Tuesday. In an unprecedented gesture, he was greeted by President George
W. Bush, Laura Bush and their daughter Jenna, upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force
Base in Maryland.

Today, which is also the Pope's 81st birthday, Benedict XVI visited the White House
and more than 9,000 people with tickets were there to see him speak. This makes it
"one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House," according to
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. An estimated additional 4,000 people
without tickets lined the streets.











Benedict XVI addresses the gathered crowd today at the South Lawn.The Pope was
given a 21-gun salute and greeted by President Bush on the South Lawn of the White
House. Benedict XVI addressed the crowd in a short speech. He appealed for support
"for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote
progress."

He further said, "As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical
issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious
beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible
and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society."
Benedict said he has "great respect for this vast pluralistic society" and ended his
speech with "God bless America."

Kevin Waymel, 26, travelled from San Francisco with 80 others to see the Pope. He
told The Guardian that he had "come to show support for the Holy Father," and
credited his faith for getting him off drugs.

George W. Bush and Laura Bush present a birthday cake to Benedict
XVI.Afterwards, inside the White House, the first couple presented the Pope with a
birthday cake. In a private meeting with Bush, Benedict XVI brought up his concerns
about the Iraq war and the treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States, who
may number as many as 20 million. Most of these are from Latin America and
therefore overwhelmingly Catholic.

After the meeting, Benedict XVI rode along Pennsylvania Avenue in the popemobile
with throngs of people lining the street.

Wednesday evening, the Pope met with US bishops at the Basilica of the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He addressed the bishops about sexual abuse
by the clergy, which the Pope has said made him "deeply ashamed." The US Catholic
Church has paid out an estimated US$2 billion to settle abuse cases in recent years.

Bendict XVI told the gathered bishops that the sex abuse scandal had at times been
mishandled and urged them to reach out to the victims.


Children along Pennsylvania Avenue wait for the popemobile to pass before them."It
is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every
breach of trust to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern
to those so seriously wronged," the Pope said.


















Some victims had hoped the Pope would have critcised bishops for transferring
pedophile priests from parish to parish. He did not go that far and instead praised
training programs for priests and lay people who deal with children. "In this regard
your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly
under your pastoral care, but for all of society," said Benedict XVI.

Benedict XVI passes the White House in the popemobile"It's the closest the Pope
has come to saying that the bishops
didn't do their job right. I think that's quite significant," said the Reverend Thomas J.
Reese, a Jesuit priest and author.













Prior to his arrival, hundreds of people were already gathered outside the Basilica as
Benedict XVI arrived. "I'm really excited," said an unnamed onlooker to NY1. "It's
like a dream, almost. There are, like, other foreign dignitaries, and then there's the
pope. It's a unique experience and I can't wait to see him."

During his flight to the United States, Benedict XVI told reporters that he intended to
discuss poverty and development aid to poor countries with President Bush. "The
United States has to help these countries develop. It is in the interest of everyone, not
only these countries but of the world and particularly of the United States," he said.

This is the first Papal visit to the United States by Benedict XVI, and the first visit of
a Pope to the U.S. since John Paul II's visit in 1999. The pope scheduled to stay in
Washington through Thursday. After that, he will travel to New York City where he
plans to address the United Nations, visit the World Trade Center site, and celebrate
Mass at Yankee Stadium.


Sources:

Wikimedia Commons has more media related to:
Pope Benedict XVI visit to the United States begins Wikipedia has an article
about Pope Benedict XVI.
Michael Amon and Jennifer Barrios "Pope: Clergy sex scandal was
mishandled". Newsday, April 16, 2008
"Pope Gets Tough On Clergy Sex Abuse In Address To Bishops". NY1, April
16, 2008
Ewen MacAskill "Thousands gather to greet Pope at White House". The
Guardian, April 16, 2008
Ian Urbina and Abby Goodnough "Abuse Victims Not Placated by Pope". The
New York Times, April 16, 2008
Tom Heneghan "Pope to meet Bush and bishops". Reuters, April 16, 2008
"Warm US welcome for Pope Benedict". BBC News Online, April 16, 2008
Philip Pullella "Pope makes first visit to U.S.". Reuters, April 15, 2008
Patricia Zapor "Pope Benedict greeted by Bush as he begins first U.S. visit".
Catholic News Service, April 15, 2008
"Pope Benedict XVI to visit in April". Archdiocese of New York, November
12, 2007
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