On Wednesday, 9,000 people gathered on the South Lawn of the Whitehouse to sing Happy Birthday to Pope Benedict XVI. Twice.
The Pope turned eighty-one, and this is his first trip to the United States as Pope, as well as the first papal visit to the US in the last twenty-nine years. His six-day trip to Washington D.C. and New York City marks his third year as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
In addition to announcing "God bless America," in his speech to the Whitehouse onlookers the Pope stated the following:
"I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the church in the United States and strengthens the resolve of Catholics to contribute even more responsibly to the life of this nation of which they are proud to be citizens."
Bush treated Benedict as an honored dignitary and claims that his visit serves as a reminder to Americans to “distinguish between right and wrong.”
