President and Mrs.
George Bush will greet Pope Benedict XVI, April 15, when he arrives at
Andrews Air Force Base for a six-day visit to the United States that will
take him to Washington and New York City.
The pope is expected to arrive at four in the afternoon on an Alitalia
flight dubbed "Shepherd One." Accompanying him in the plane will be several
Vatican officials and more that 60 members of the Vatican Press Corps.
Upon arrival Pope Benedict also will be greeted by several Church
officials including Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Vatican nuncio to the United
States; Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops; Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington and
Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services
USA.
Several hundred guests will also be on hand. Among them there will be
military families and young people from several Catholic high schools.
Before the arrival, the United States Air Force Band will provide
entertainment for the public.
When the pope arrives, the color guard will offer its customary
greeting for a head of state. The ceremony will be brief and without
speeches. Formal greetings will be offered the next morning when Pope
Benedict visits President Bush at the White House.
Source: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
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