President Bush (web|news|bio) doesn't usually pick up a world leader at the airport. But he's pulling out all the stops for Pope Benedict.
Bush will greet the pope at Andrews Air Force Base outside the nation's capital tomorrow. He's also bringing thousands of people to the South Lawn Wednesday morning and hosting a fancy meal in the pope's honor at the White House. Benedict, who turns 81 Wednesday, won't be there, however. He'll be at a prayer service with bishops at a Washington basilica.
The Bush-Benedict get-together will be the 25th meeting between a pope and a sitting U.S. president.
Thursday morning, there will be a Mass at Washington's new baseball park.
Pope Benedict may not see them or hear them, but aggrieved Catholic activists hope his U.S. visit will help draw attention to their causes.
David Clohessy of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests says his group will call for disciplinary action against bishops who covered up abuses by their priests but remain unpunished. SNAP also is calling for pre-emptive steps to prevent abuse by priests in other nations.
On Monday evening, women who've been ordained in unauthorized ceremonies, including two who were recently excommunicated, will conduct what they call "an inclusive Mass" at a Methodist church in Washington.
Gay Catholic activists plan to demonstrate Tuesday along the papal motorcade route in Washington.
Later in his six-day visit, the pope travels to New York for an address to the U.N. and Mass at Yankee Stadium.
