Thank you for posting this. I can't believe how the MSM has twisted this visit. I watched the whole thing on Fox yesterday AM, and although I could not understand most of what the Pope was saying, I was quite sure that he was not "scolding" the President, as the MSM would have us believe. On the contrary, he DID scold the American Bishops later in the day for not showing leadership to the American people on the subject of abortion, stem cell research, cloning, homosexual marriage, and euthanasia.
Oops. ...try the second paragraph again.
As much as I disagree with some feminist and anti-American statements he's made, by John Paul's disposition of calm and thoughfulness, it's very doubtful that he used any scolding or "castigating" tone toward President Bush. I disagree with the criticisms in his statement, but they were only that--softly spoken criticisms.
As you know, BTW, John Paul is very aged, and we must consider the sources of the information he receives on international politics. While PM Berlusconi is a good friend, Italy is not like the USA regarding the War on Terror. It's not the worst ally as far as it's population's sentiments go, but it's not the best (~ 2/3 pro-American). And there's the rest of Europe.
We may resent the information and intentions behind that info that's being issued to him very much.
I also wonder where the UK will go in relations with us after it spits PM Blair (Labour, i.e., socialist) out of office for opposing most of the British population regarding the War on Terror.