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Father William J. Watters, S.J., former pastor of St. Ignatius, Baltimore, was honored by the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) April 10 at a Loyola Blakefield, Towson, reception. The priest received the first Madonna Della Strada Award, presented by the IVC national office and named after Sancta Maria Della Strada, the first church which St. Ignatius and early Jesuits obtained to serve the urban poor in the center of Rome centuries ago.

WASHINGTON – Thousands of Americans – not all of them Catholic – filled the South Lawn of the White House for the April 16 arrival ceremony welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the White House.

WASHINGTON – At 5:21 a.m., the disc jockey on a country music radio station in Fredericksburg, Va. – 50 miles south of Washington – invited listeners to join her in singing “Happy Birthday” to Pope Benedict XVI.

WASHINGTON – Here is the text of President George W. Bush’s remarks welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the South Lawn of the White House April 16.

WASHINGTON – In a meeting at the White House, Pope Benedict XVI and President George W. Bush discussed the problem of terrorism and how to confront it while respecting human rights.

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.