White House
organizers promise a unique Rose Garden ceremony as they finalize plans for the
historic Papal visit next week. “There is great excitement throughout the staff
regardless of one’s religious affiliation,” said White House Deputy Chief of
Staff Joe Hagin. “This is a very special day.”
Hagin
together with Chief of Staff to the First Lady Anita McBride held a roundtable
discussion with members of faith-based media to give an inside look at the
White House preparations. “As a Catholic this is an enormous honor for me and a
privilege to work on some small aspect of this visit,” said McBride.
The staff
has prepared a ceremony that reflects the usual details reserved for heads of
state, together with “very appropriate and warm additions.”
McBride
mentioned that nearly 10,000 people will attend the ceremony on the South lawn
for which special tickets have been issued.
A number of
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will be present during the ceremony, along with
members of Catholic Charities and community volunteers.
The Old
Guard Fife and Drum Corps will don their Revolutionary regalia for a
presentation during the ceremony and will honor the Holy Father with the 21 gun
salute, a typical gesture during a visit by a head of state.
Hymns will
also be included in the ceremony, with exact details of the music and vocalists
yet to be released.
“We wanted
to focus on making it a warm welcome, not just a speech on the lawn.” said
Hagin.
The White
House staff mentioned that the President was particularly honored to host the
Holy Father on his birthday and would present the Holy Father with a gift. “It
will be something for a person that loves music.” hinted McBride.
Following
the Rose Garden ceremony, the President and the Holy Father will hold a private
meeting in the White House.
McBride
suggested that the meeting would last about 45 minutes, but that there were no
“set agenda” for discussion topics.
Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone will also meet separately during the papal visit.
Both Hagin
and McBride noted that they have visited the Vatican in the past with President Bush and the First Lady, and wanted to extend the same warm hospitality.
“I think we
all hope, and I know that President and Mrs. Bush hope, that when the Holy
Father leaves the White House he feels welcomed as friend and family and that
we have shown him the best of America as we know the churches of the dioceses
are doing,” said McBride.
-- Register correspondent Charlie
Spiering
"The White House staff mentioned that the President was particularly honored to host the Holy Father on his birthday and would present the Holy Father with a gift. “It will be something for a person that loves music.” hinted McBride."
Wow, President Bush bought Pope Benedict an ipod? Any podcasts included or just Beethoven?
Posted by: Adrian | April 10, 2008 at 01:03 PM