Pope Benedict Welcomed in White House Ceremony That Includes Birthday Wishes

In a ceremony marked by religious and patriotic themes, President Bush welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to the White House, and the two leaders delivered formal speeches on the South Lawn that set the tone for a private meeting that took place afterward.

In their addresses, both touched on the topics of freedom, truth, justice and the dignity of the human person as being foundational principles for nations.

The outdoor event, taking place beneath a flawless blue sky and bright sunshine, began with the Marine Corps band playing the national anthems of the Vatican and the United States and ended with the 10,000 invited guests on the South Lawn joining in the singing of “Happy Birthday, Holy Father” to the pope, who turned 81 that day.

A 30-man Knights of Columbus honor guard in full regalia processed at the beginning of the ceremony and stood in formation during the speeches. It was the first time in the Order’s 126 years that a Fourth Degree contingent took part at the White House when a pope met a president.

"This is an event that all our Sir Knights will remember for the rest of their lives. Many had tears in their eyes," said Vice Supreme Master Ralph Rossi, who headed the honor guard. "We were representing the entire Order of Knights in this historic event. Being on the White House lawn, so close to the president of the United States and our Holy Father, we were totally overwhelmed with emotions. We were in awe."

President Bush drew applause from the thousands in attendance when he said that the world needs the pope’s guidance in proclaiming that “all human life is sacred.”

The president also touched on themes close to the Holy Father’s heart when he said, “We need your message that God is love,” referring to the pope’s first encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love), and used the pope’s popular phrase “dictatorship of relativism” to describe the mindset that denies any universal principles of truth.

President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush lead the celebration of the 81st birthday of Pope Benedict XVI as he's presented a cake by White House Pastry Chef Bill Yosses Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at the White House. White House photo by Eric Draper

In his address, Pope Benedict stressed the theme of freedom, including religious freedom, which he said the United States was founded upon. Quoting his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, he said, “in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation.”

He continued, “Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.”

He noted that he will bring a message of freedom based on truth when he speaks to the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on Friday.

He also said that he comes to the United States to help in the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Baltimore, the first American Catholic diocese, being raised to the status of archdiocese, and four other areas being named dioceses: New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville (called Bardstown at the time).