Reply #16: He was meeting with Bishops this evening. He sees the Monkey in the Oval tomorrow.

[MADem]

Probably reading the bishops the riot act--no more trouble from the US, you bums!! Get that cash cow to milking, again!!!

He's going to the WH for a fancy-shmancy ceremony and a 'sit-down' with Bush tomorrow morning:

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=116&sid=1385330

On Wednesday, there will be a formal welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. Attendance estimates range from 9,000 to 12,000 guests.

"This probably will be the biggest number that we've had on the South Lawn," McBride said. "We had just over 7,000 for Queen Elizabeth II" in May 2007.

White House planners, who have been working on the event since about September, are anxious about getting the large crush of people through metal detectors and in position for the splashy ceremony at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday. If there is a light rain, the ceremony will continue. If there's a downpour, the official delegations will be moved inside and the outdside event will be canceled.

Bush and the pontiff will make remarkds at the 30-minute ceremony, which will include the U.S. and Holy See anthems, a hymn by a vocalist, spiritual and patriotic music and the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts have been invited to the South Lawn to show the spirit of America.

Afterwards, the president and the pope will meet in the Oval Office.