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WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives formally welcomed Pope Benedict XVI with a unanimously passed resolution during his first trip to the United States April 15-20.

Mr. President, Thank you for your gracious words of welcome on behalf of the people of the United States of America. I deeply appreciate your invitation to visit this great country. My visit coincides with an important moment in the life of the Catholic community in America: the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the elevation of the country’s first diocese – Baltimore – to a metropolitan archdiocese, and the establishment of the sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville. Yet I am happy to be here as a guest of all Americans.

WASHINGTON – Pope Benedict XVI, meeting at the White House with President George W. Bush, said it was important to preserve the traditional role of religion in American political and social life.

It is always surprising to hear there are still people defending our invasion of Iraq and the continued occupation. It is not surprising that the selective use of Scripture is used to defend the invasion and occupation. Scripture is often used whatever the merits of the action or cause being defended. It is fruitless to respond with the select use of Scripture since the real issues tend to get lost in the rhetoric.

NEW YORK – The tightest of security surrounded the meals being prepared for Pope Benedict XVI during his April 15-20 U.S. visit. Even the menus were being kept secret.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. – Welcomed by U.S. President George W. Bush and an array of church officials, Pope Benedict XVI began his first pastoral visit to the United States as pope April 15.

NEW YORK – Lidia Matticchio Bastianich has cooked for her fair share of VIPs, including first lady Laura Bush and the presidents of Japan and Chile. Nothing, however, comes close to cooking for Pope Benedict XVI.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. – Hundreds of military personnel and their families and dozens of students from a nearby Catholic high school perched on bleachers set up at the edge of the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base to greet Pope Benedict XVI on his first U.S. visit as pope.

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO THE U.S. – Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped to help heal the wounds of priestly sex abuse during his visit to the United States and promised steps to ensure that such acts do not happen again.

SEATTLE – Catholic leaders must move beyond an attitude of simple compliance with safe environment initiatives and instead join in “a ministry of conversion” that will lead to a broader societal effort to end the sexual abuse of children, Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett of Seattle said April 8.