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History of US papal visits

Other News Materials 16 April 2008 05:40 (UTC +04:00)

(dpa) - When thousands gather on the White House lawn Wednesday morning to greet Pope Benedict XVI, it will be just the second time that a pontiff has visited the presidential residence.
The expected crowd of 9,000 to 12,000 people, including clergy, members of religious orders, lay people and children, will be the largest for an event on the South Lawn during President George W Bush's seven years in office.
Just three popes have visited the United States - beginning with Paul VI in 1965. The late John Paul II made seven visits to the country, the last in 1999 to St Louis, Missouri. He had six meetings with US presidents, but only one visit to the White House, hosted by Jimmy Carter in 1979.
The United States only established full diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1984. It had a variety of contact with the pope early in the nation's history before relations lapsed for more than a century, but most modern presidents have had envoys to the Vatican.
Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and daughter Jenna greeted the pontiff on his arrival Tuesday at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, outside Washington.
Bush, who has never greeted a foreign dignitary at the airport, was following presidential tradition by meeting the leader of the Catholic Church when he lands, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
A slight breeze stirred Benedict's white robes, and after waving to the crowd, the pope and Bush spoke privately inside the military airport's visitors lounge.
Bush and Benedict are scheduled to meet again Wednesday in a reception at the White House and will hold a private meeting in the Oval Office.
The pope is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, becoming the third pontiff to do so. John Paul II last spoke to the world body in 1995.

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