Bush to View Pope's Body Upon Arrival

AP ^ | April 6, 2005

[West Coast Conservative]

President Bush will view the body of Pope John II immediately upon his arrival Wednesday from Washington, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said.

Bush and a U.S. delegation that includes two former presidents were flying to Rome late Wednesday to attend Friday's funeral, along with kings, presidents and government leaders from some 100 countries.

It was not immediately known if other heads of state would view the body, which has been lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica since Monday afternoon.

Dignitaries were being allowed to skip the massive line of pilgrims that snaked down a wide boulevard, through ancient alleyways and onto a bridge.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I will also add in both instance of the tsunami in December of 2004 and being in the US delegation to the funeral of JPII, Clinton was asked to come along, he didn't weasel his way in. Bush 43 and 41 asked Clinton to go along with Bush 41 to the areas ravaged by the tsunami in December of 2004.

Make one thing clear: I'm not sticking up for Clinton, I'm just giving you the facts.

[Jackson57]

To bring the thread back to the Pope, it was when Pope John Paul II was elected that I first really became interested in Catholicism. It took me many years to finally get there.

[Jackson57]

BSF, you're entirely right. I don't think the Pope would begrudge Clinton being with the delegation from the US. Who are we to complain? Also, Clinton in his own (sorry) self-serving way, has been somewhat supportive of President Bush.

[Verginius Rufus]

Consider the story of the wedding feast at Cana (John 2.1-11). They run out of wine; Mary tells Jesus that they have no wine; Jesus replies, "Woman, what is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come"; Mary tells the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Jesus turns the water into wine.

The idea is that if Mary could be so influential that Jesus would perform a miracle at her request when his hour had not yet come, that she can help those now who ask her to beg a favor from her son.

[sarasotarepublican]

Thanks for the info.

This is even more depressing. I can't figure out this new love affair between Clinton and the Bushies.

[Fudd Fan]

That's a wonderful explanation... a very wise man!

[BigSkyFreeper]

Also, Clinton in his own (sorry) self-serving way, has been somewhat supportive of President Bush.

Exactly. He's been supportive of the War On Terror, while Carter and the goobers on the far left have been against the War In Iraq. JPII obviously didn't like war, but he didn't like to see millions suffer mercilessly either.

[Fudd Fan]

"Soccer players are now dignitaries. LOL"

Well in ROME they are!

[daybreakcoming]

My spouse and I walked through St Peter's a few years ago and thought "how magnificently rich". Of course we had just left a 3rd world country where the natives were eating grass on some days so it almost seemed obscene to see such wealth dedicated to beauty after that. Yes, it is very beautiful with much history. But no, we didn't wanna be one. Been there, done that. :o)

[votelife]

as beautiful as St. Peter's is, as a Protestant, I say that walking through the gates of heavan and seeing Christ will be FAR more beautiful!

[sarasotarepublican]

I think he is using the Bush family in order to gain a little respectibility for the Hillary run in 2008. Hillary will use the pictures of Bill and the Bushes during her campaign. You can bet on that.

[votelife]

what a jerk of Clinton to say JPII had a "mixed legacy"...

[BigSkyFreeper]

I think he is using the Bush family in order to gain a little respectibility for the Hillary run in 2008. Hillary will use the pictures of Bill and the Bushes during her campaign. You can bet on that.

Tom Daschle tried that, and look what happend to him.

[Fudd Fan]

"Clinton in his own (sorry) self-serving way, has been somewhat supportive of President Bush"

After he got a couple of things out of his system, he has- remember the speeches in Europe that were soooo embarrassing? - I don't think that polled well because he began to be minutely supportive. Also 9/11 helped to warm him up.

[JIM O]

I agree. I think it results from Clinton doing the math and realizing GWB is a 2 term President and has already established a real place in history resulting from his actions in his first term. The GWB legacy will be a good one and Clinton is smart. He knows it is rewarding to at least make it look like you support the winning team.

[Clara Lou]

How do you know that Bush isn't using Clinton? Didja ever think of that?? ;-)

[unkus]

George Bush has more class in a fraction of one of his eyelashes than clinton has in his whole body and soul.

[deport]

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Wed Apr 6, 5:04 PM ET
In this photo made available by the Vatican newspaper Osservatore Romano, from left, wife of US President George W. Bush Laura, President W. Bush, his father former President George H.W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, pay their respects to late Pope John Paul II as he lies in state inside St. Peter's Baslica, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 6, 2005. They knelt just a few feet (meters) from the pope's remains, dressed in a crimson robe with a white bishop's miter and will attend his funeral on Friday. (AP Photo/Osservatore Romano,ho)

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Wed Apr 6, 5:32 PM ET
From left, US President George W. Bush, his wife Laura, his father former US President George H.W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, kneel by the body of late Pope John Paul II inside St. Peter's Baslica, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 6, 2005. They knelt just a few feet (meters) from the pope's remains, dressed in a crimson robe with a white bishop's miter and will attend his funeral on Friday. (AP Photo/Danilo Schiavella, pool)

[Don Simmons]

"Fox News reported yesterday that the body of the Pope had been embalmed...do you have a source that stated differently?"


Ironically, yes - FOX reported on Monday or Tuesday that his body was NOT going to be embalmed. Other agencies reported the same. I hadn't heard of the change - thanks.

[sarasotarepublican]

How do you know that Bush isn't using Clinton? Didja ever think of that?? ;-)

For what may I ask?