Pat Korten - White House welcome
Today's welcome for Benedict XVI at the White House was an extraordinary affair for many reasons. Usually, visiting heads of state are welcomed in front of a few hundred people assembled on the South Lawn of the White House. Today's welcome featured the largest-ever welcome crowd, at least 12,000 wildly enthusiastic guests, two bands, and a contingent of Fourth Degree Knights appearing at a White House ceremony for the very first time. The weather was magnificent - spring in Washington is the very best time of the year - sunny and warm, but not too warm.
The pope's remarks, delivered in perfect if accented English, were right on the mark. "I come as friend, a preacher of the Gospel, and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society," he said. And his conclusion, a hearty "God bless America," was perfect. It's easy to become jaded with the pomp and ceremony of Washington - having lived here for some 33 years before joining the Supreme Council staff I thought I'd seen it all. But I hadn't. Not until today. And I'll never forget it.
Even now, with the perspective of a few weeks gone by since Benedict XVI's return to The Vatican, the essence of the day remains indelibly captured by aforementioned South Lawn description of that uniquely historic & uplifting day in America.
Note: This blogger aims to ask our local library to invest in a copy of your noteworthy (from a readability point of view), newly inked, seemingly family-friendly book seen featured within a nearby bookstore over the weekend.
Much continued success to the cause of Fr. McGivney's cannonization.JMcH.
Posted by: J.M.McHale | June 04, 2008 at 06:44 PM