He's coming

I'll soon embark on a once in a lifetime trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City to attend mass and events officiated by Pope Benedict XVI. My dear friend, former City Attorney and now Deacon Michael Byrne is traveling with me and he will participate in the papal mass at Washington Nationals Stadium.

I expect the King of All Media will be dethroned during the papal visit as all lenses and microphones will be focused on Pope Benedict. This is Pope Benedict's first visit to the United States and an opportunity to build hope and faith in the American church. He'll celebrate his 81st birthday while at the White House. He is the 265th successor of St. Peter, installed by Christ to shepherd His church on earth.

Pope Benedict's tentative shedule is:

Tuesday, April 15
Arrive in Washington, DC via Shepherd One
greeted by President Bush at Andrew's AFB

Wednesday, April 16 Pope Benedict XVI's 81st Birthday
10:30 a.m. Meet with the President at The White House
Only the second time in history the pope has visited the White House

Noon Popemobile route
Pope Benedict will travel via Popemobile on at least
two trips while in D.C.

Popemobile traveling down I-95 toward D.C. on April 2nd.

5:30 p.m. Meet with the bishops of the United States, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Thursday, April 17
10:00 a.m. Mass hosted by the Archdiocese of Washington, Washington Nationals baseball stadium

5:00 p.m. Address Catholic educators: presidents of 200 Catholic colleges and universities and education leaders from 195 dioceses, The Catholic University of America
Of the 250+ Catholic schools and universities in the United States, CUA is the only college operated by bishops.

6:30 p.m. Meet with interfaith leaders, Pope John Paul II Cultural Center including Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews

Friday, April 18
Depart for New York
10:45 a.m. Speech to the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations

6:00 p.m. Meet with ecumenical leaders of other Christian denominations at St. Joseph Church in Manhattan

Saturday, April 19
3rd anniversary of the election of Pope Benedict XVI to the papacy
9:15 a.m. Mass for Priests, Deacons and Religious, St. Patrick's Cathedral

4:30 p.m. Meet with Children with Disabilities, St. Joseph's Seminary Chapel Youth and Seminarian Rally, Grounds of St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers

Sunday, April 20
9:30 a.m. Visit to Ground Zero, World Trade Center Site

2:30 p.m. Mass hosted by the Archdiocese of New York at Yankee Stadium
Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Baltimore Archdiocese

8:00 p.m. Depart for Vatican City onboard Shepherd One

Fun Fact:
Pope Benedict XVI has a pilot's license and flys the Vatican helicopter, but he does not have a driver's license and never learned to drive a car.