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| Pope Benedict XVI and President Bush wave as they walk to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 16, 2008, after an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn. |
WASHINGTON (AP) -- An enthralled South Lawn crowd of more than 13,500 sang "Happy Birthday" to Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday - twice - and President Bush said the first papal White House visit in 29 years was a reminder for Americans to "distinguish between simple right and wrong."
"We need your message to reject this dictatorship of relativism and embrace a culture of justice and truth," Bush said in brief remarks welcoming Benedict to the White House for a 90-minute stay that was both symbolic and substantive. "In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do as they wish, we need your message that true liberty requires us to live our freedom not just for ourselves," Bush said.
The pontiff turned 81 Wednesday, the first full day of his first trip to the United States as leader of the world's Roman Catholics. It was only the second White House visit by a pope, and was accompanied by the kind of pageantry rarely seen even on grounds accustomed to routinely welcoming the world's most important leaders.
Lampposts fluttered with flags in the red-white-and-blue of America and yellow-and-white of the Holy See. The South Lawn was filled to bursting with the largest crowd of Bush's presidency, requiring a large television screen for those in the back. Boy and Girl Scouts wore their uniforms and Knights of Columbus displayed traditional brightly colored feather headgear. Thousands unable to get inside filled Washington's streets, playing music and waving banners as they waited for a glimpse of the pontiff.
Benedict's limousine pulled up for a warm greeting from Bush and his wife, Laura. The two leaders strolled along a red carpet to a platform set up on the lawn, and sat stiffly side-by-side as the Marine Band played the national anthem of the Holy See while a 21-gun salute sprayed gray smoke. Famed American soprano Kathleen Battle sang "The Lord's Prayer." The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps marched by, dressed in colonial garb.
The love in the audience was evident.
A few yelled "Viva il Papa." Four toddlers sat on the grass with handmade signs, one reading "We love you pope of hope" and the other showing a birthday cake - chocolate - with an 81 on it. "Happy Birthday" was sung spontaneously at first early in the ceremony, and a formal, more full-throated version came at the end.
"God bless America," said Benedict robustly.
The pontiff has said he was looking forward to meeting a "great people and a great church" during his six-day trip to Washington and New York City. The papal journey coincides not just with Benedict's birthday, but the three-year anniversary of his ascendancy atop the Roman Catholic Church. Nurturing the U.S. flock is a sensitive and important mission for Benedict at a time not just of ongoing scandal in the American church but amid his campaign to tamp down secularism and re-ignite faith.
"I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the church in the United States and strengthens the resolve of Catholics to contribute even more responsibly to the life of this nation of which they are proud to be citizens," Benedict said at Bush's side.
Bush showed off America and ticked off what he said are its best virtues, calling it a nation of prayer and compassion and one that is the most "innovative, creative and dynamic country on Earth" but also among the most religious.
But while acting like the proud custodian of his country, Bush also seemed to suggest that America could use a little tough talking-to by the pontiff.
"In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred and that each of us is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary," the president said, drawing sustained applause.
Adela Arguello, a Department of Homeland Security worker from Miami was touched. "We're living in very terrible times and any message like this is important," she said. "He needed to come."
"How often in life do you get to sing Happy Birthday to the pope?" said Brenda Hawk, a Sunday school teacher from Centreville, Va. "Even if you're not Catholic, it's darn cool!"
The president kicked off the unprecedented series of papal festivities on Tuesday, by motoring to Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington to meet Benedict's plane, something he's never done for any leader. While the pontiff received a rock-star reception on the tarmac, Bush stood back in the unusual role of second fiddle.
On Wednesday after the grand South Lawn ceremonies, Bush and his wife, Laura, escorted the pontiff inside for birthday cake. The leaders then held about 45 minutes of talks in the Oval Office, the 25th meeting between a Roman Catholic pope and a U.S. president - sessions that span 89 years, five pontiffs and 11 American leaders.
Afterward, a long motorcade accompanying the pontiff exited the White House grounds for a slow procession along Pennsylvania Avenue. As Benedict waved from inside his glass-walled Mercedes popemobile, spectators responded with loud cheers and applause.
Across from the White House, though, the papal visit drew a protest of about 200. With one demonstrator dressed as the pope, the crowd held signs criticizing celibacy and a large banner reading "100,000 sexually abused kids in the US."
In the evening, the Bushes are hosting a state dinner in the East Room dinner in Benedict's honor, complete with Bavarian-style food to celebrate his native Germany. But a meeting between Benedict and U.S. bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington was preventing him from taking part in the swank evening.
Bush and Benedict share much common ground, particularly in opposing abortion, gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research.
But they disagree over the war in Iraq, the death penalty and the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. Benedict also speaks for environmental protection and social welfare in ways that run counter to Bush policies.
A joint U.S.-Holy See statement issued afterward suggested that Benedict brought up his concerns about the damage caused by punitive immigration laws. It said the leaders discussed "the need for a coordinated policy regarding immigration, especially their humane treatment and the well being of their families."
On Iraq, discussion focused particularly on the fears of the Christian minority in the Muslim-majority country, said White House press secretary Dana Perino.
Other topics included human rights, religious freedom, fighting poverty and disease in Africa, the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, Lebanon and terrorism. The statement said the leaders "touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights," a reference Perino could not explain. Benedict has been critical of using torture as a terrorist interrogation tool.
One topic not mentioned as a subject of discussion was the clergy sex abuse scandal that has devastated the American church since 2002. On his flight to the United States, Benedict said he was "deeply ashamed" by the scandal and "will do everything possible to heal this wound."
