Posted on 04/06/2005 12:26:19 PM PDT by 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.
MSNBC just replayed it. The U.S. delegation knelt in the first pew and bowed their heads. The First Lady and Sec. Rice were wearing black veils over their hair.
Bill Bennett was just now on Cavuto, and FOXNews just showed that our great President Bush and his delegation have arrived to pay their respects to my (our) great Pope.
Thanks. I missed that.
I am beginning to think NONE of the former presidents likes Jimmy Carter!
Is Andy Card Catholic?
You are so right. That was a touching historical moment and it brought me to fresh tears too.
I am beginning to think NONE of the former presidents likes Jimmy Carter!
Don't forget.. MICHEAL MOORE loves Jimmy Carterrrrrrrrrr
Did you notice the space between #41 and Clinton and between Clinton and SoS Rice? Guess no one wanted close to Clinton.
Yes, those veils are traditional in Italy.
Regards, Ivan
I believe Andy Card is Episcopalian, but I could be wrong.
From FoxNews
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,152619,00.html
Clinton, talking separately with reporters on the plane, said the pope had demonstrated support for NATO actions to end genocide in Bosnia and Kosovo.
He said he had met "two great popes" in his lifetime, John Paul II and John XXIII. Clinton said he recognized that John Paul "may have had a mixed legacy," but he called him a man with a great feel for human dignity.
And, Clinton said, noting the throngs the pope would consistently draw, said, "The man knows how to build a crowd."
Ugh. That last comment was certainly crass.
I wish I could go to this as it would be a fitting 'bookend' to pay homage to the OTHER Great Man of the 20th Century; Distance, time and expense restrict me.
BTW: I signed the Condolence Book for Reagan and later received a card by mail from Nancy commemorating the event and thanking me for attending. Now THATS class!! It is now a precious souvenir.
I sure hope the Euros have enough class not to stage an anti-Bush demonstration at the funeral.
Hillary is not with the Congressional delegation -- she is not attending according to a report that was aired earlier today.
Close enough. ;-)
Yes, President Bush clearly looked moved, as he did at Reagan's funeral. It is very touching.
"Keeping in mind I speak as a lifelong Catholic so no disrespect is meant, but how can you walk through St.Peter's and not want to be one (if only for a moment)?"
Oh I couldn't agree more. I was raised Presbyterian but visited St. Peter's when I was 18. I don't think I have ever seen anything (man-made) that is so beautiful, so moving. The Sistine Chapel, the Pieta.... simply unforgettable.
I also saw the Pope in person, in Denver when he visited for World Youth Day. I saw him only for a moment, when he got out of his helicopter, but when he blessed the crowd, people began crying and praying and a chill swept down my back. You truly felt you were in the presence of a holy person. That too, is an unforgettable moment for me.
LOL! I would not trust bill as far as I can spit.
They are traditional, period. Wherever you find traditional Catholics, you will see most of the women with their heads covered in church.
No where have I ever read that he ent to Italy when in high school, and how the heck could a Southern Baptist from Arkansas get a papl audience in 1963????
Sigh. I had hoped he had repented, but I somehow think he is making stuff up again.
Fox News reported yesterday that the body of the Pope had been embalmed...do you have a source that stated differently?
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