With a military color guard poised at attention and a host of Church and government leaders standing by, Pope Benedict XVI opened his arms in greeting as he emerged from “Shepherd One” and descended the steps to touch U.S. soil for the first time as Holy Father.

Moving onto the red carpet stretched upon the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base, he shook hands with President George W. Bush, first lady Laura Bush and their daughter Jenna, then continued along a line of dignitaries.

The pope had arrived, and the nation was watching.

Hundreds of spectators from schools and parishes in the Washington Archdiocese cheered and waved small U.S. and Vatican flags, matching the large flags that were placed outside two open windows in the plane’s cockpit shortly after the Alitalia Boeing 777 touched down at the air base at 3:50 p.m., on April 15.

It was the first time President Bush met a head of state at the plane. He did so, he said earlier, to honor a world religious leader who stands for objective truth and peace among nations.

Also greeting the pope were Mary Ann Glendon, U.S. ambassador to the Vatican; Archbishop Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio to the United Nations; Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Bishops Conference, and Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington.

The president and the pope walked side by side along the red carpet to a building on the base for more personal greetings, then returned a few minutes later to enter their respective cars, which were part of a 24-vehicle, high-security motorcade that whisked them from the air base.

Christ Our Hope

Under the theme “Christ Our Hope,” Pope Benedict’s itinerary over the next five days includes Masses, meetings and rallies in Washington, D.C., and New York City, with a major address to the United Nations on the morning of April 18. After Mass at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx April 20, he will depart from John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The Knights of Columbus will have a visible role throughout the papal trip. At the White House welcoming ceremony on Wednesday (April 16), thirty Fourth Degree Knights in full regalia will provide an honor guard at the White House as President Bush and Pope Benedict make formal statements before going to a closed meeting.

On Thursday, a large formation of Fourth Degree Knights will lead the liturgical procession at Washington’s Nationals Park, where the pope will offer Mass before 46,000 attendees. The altar, papal chair and ambo for the Mass were designed by two college Knights from The Catholic University of America and constructed by a Maryland Knight who is also a deacon.

The Order’s presence will also be evident in New York, where a large number of Fourth Degree members will help at the Mass in Yankee Stadium, escorting priests to designated spots to distribute Communion. At the JFK Airport farewell ceremony, another contingent of Knights will form an honor guard for the Holy Father.

Knights Greet the Pope

Col. David Zorzi waits with Tina Jonas, chief financial officer for the Department of Defense, for the pope’s plane to land at Andrews Air Force Base.

“There is a buzz, an excitement with everyone, no matter what religious faith you are,” he said. “He is someone who stands for peace and truth.”

Tina Jonas, a civilian who is the chief financial officer for the Department of Defense, stood with a small U.S. flag in her hands. She attends Mass most days of the week at Fort Belvoir Army base in Maryland, where she has seen an active Knights of Columbus council.

“For me, as a Catholic, it is a great thrill to be here so close to the pope,” he said. “This is a personal, spiritual experience. ‘Christ Our Hope’ means that there is hope for better things in our humanity. The Holy Father brings us together with a positive message.”