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April 16, 2008

Pope visit: Planned pomp and a bit of improv

AP photo / Ron Edmonds
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowd as President Bush applauds this morning during a South Lawn ceremony for the pope's arrival at the White House.

WASHINGTON -- The trumpeters sounded "Hail to the Chief" at 10:25 as President Bush arrived in a dark suit with First Lady Laura Bush clad in white.

The vice president and his wife, Lynn Cheney, entered with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the honor guard presented its flags and black automobiles pulled in front of the Truman Balcony.

Snare drums were beating.

The Bushes approached a black limousine and greeted Pope Benedict XVI, as he stepped out, onto the South Lawn of the White House.

The pontiff stood with the president, put his arms out peacefully to the crowd and stood for the playing of the National Anthem of the Holy See and the National Anthem of the United States.

An unscripted moment:

After the fife and drum cops marched in review, someone in the bleachers yelled, “Happy Birthday!”

The crowd then treated the pontiff to a bit of American improv for his 81st birthday -- a round of "Happy Birthday," off the cuff and a capella.

Then soprano Kathleen Battle sang.

After the pope said, “God bless America,” a chorus sang “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The president, first lady and pope left the stage and mounted the steps to the Truman Balcony.

The pontiff stood between two gleaming white columns, and stretched out his arms above a box of yellow daffodils that matched the yellow in the papal flag, toward the crowd.

Kathleen Battle led the congregation in a second round of "Happy Birthday."

Start to finish, 10:25 to 10:59 a.m.

-- John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 11:17 AM | Permalink

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