A Reporter’s Notebook Washington, D.C., – Monday, April 14

 In a town of hot tickets and red carpets, the hottest ticket this week is to see Pope Benedict XVI, who arrives in the nation’s capital Tuesday on his first visit to the United States as pope.

To an area that is known for its debates over earthly power and the politics of the moment, the pope will bring a message based on timeless truths and faith in God.

The theme of his apostolic journey, “Christ Our Hope,” may not be seen on many bumper stickers in this national election year, yet any political candidate would welcome the media coverage that Pope Benedict is receiving, and the worldwide audience that will hear him speak. The power of his message lies in the fact that he comes not in his own name but in the name of Christ, that he comes not just for Catholics but for all people, that he speaks not just for one Church but for humanity.

He will give voice to the Gospel and witness to the unbroken chain of popes going back to St. Peter, who saw Jesus face to face. It is this lineage, extending beyond the limits of any earthly kingdom, that draws the attention of so many, and makes him the focal point, for a few days at least, of the 24/7 news cycle.

After three busy days in Washington, he will travel to New York City for three more days of events before closing his U.S. trip with a Mass at Yankee Stadium.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson has said that the pope will bring a “revolution of virtue” to the United States, based on the virtues of faith, hope and charity.

Message to the American People

In a videotaped address released a few days before his visit, Pope Benedict expressed his affection and spiritual connection to the people of the United States, which he called a “beloved country.” He asked prayers for his visit, for “without the power of prayer, without that intimate union with the Lord, our human endeavors would achieve very little.”

Explaining the message behind the trip’s theme “Christ Our Hope,” he said, “Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture and social condition. Yes, Christ is the face of God among us. Through him our lives reach fullness, and together, both as individuals and peoples, we can become a family united by fraternal love, according to the eternal plan of God the Father. I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country.”

He indicated that his message to the United Nations on Friday will stress the themes of hope for peace, justice and freedom, things that can be achieved only through obedience to God’s law. “Do to others as you would have them do to you … This golden rule is given in the Bible, but it is valid for all people, including nonbelievers. It is the law written on the human heart; on this we can all agree.”

This is a theme that Benedict has touched upon often since his election, pointing to a “dictatorship of relativism” that has hampered national and international relationships, and divided the world into rival factions.

A Presidential First

President George W. Bush will meet the Holy Father when he arrives on the special Alitalia jet, dubbed Shepherd One, at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday at Andrew Air Force Base. It will be the first time that the president will greet a foreign dignitary on the tarmac. A short ceremony at the base will include the pope, the president and First Lady Laura Bush, and Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States.

On Wednesday, the pope will have a formal White House meeting with the president, which will include an honor guard of 30 Fourth Degree members of the Knights of Columbus in full regalia. Later, the president will host a birthday party for Benedict, who turns 81 on April 16. The pope also marks the third year of his papacy on April 19.

In an exclusive interview with Raymond Arroyo on EWTN, President Bush explained that he was meeting Pope Benedict’s plane because, ‘One, he speaks for millions. Two, he doesn’t come as a politician; he comes as a man of faith.” He said he honors the pope’s conviction that “there’s a right and wrong in life, that moral relativism has a danger of undermining the capacity to have more hopeful and free societies.”

Archbishop Sambi said on EWTN that Pope Benedict does not intend to influence in any way the political process in the United States and that none of his statements should be construed as supporting political parties or candidates.