[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5892]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       WELCOME POPE BENEDICT XVI

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, tomorrow Pope Benedict 
XVI will make his first papal visit to the United States of America. 
This is an exciting time for America and the over 64 million American 
Catholics to celebrate the relationship between our Nation and The 
Vatican and our continued work towards peace and humanitarian needs 
around the world.
  During his trip, the Pope will visit New York City and Washington, 
D.C., where he will attend Mass at Nationals Park and Yankee Stadium, 
visit the World Trade Center site, and attend ceremonies and meetings 
at the White House with President George W. Bush. As an extraordinary 
sign of respect, the President will welcome the Pope at Andrew's Air 
Force Base in Maryland and escort him to the White House. Pope Benedict 
is just the third Pope to visit the United States, and this visit marks 
the 25th meeting between a sitting President and a Pope.
  On behalf of the citizens of the Second Congressional District of 
South Carolina, I welcome Pope Benedict to the United States. I hope 
his visit will be a positive reminder of the importance of our 
relationships.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops and we will never forget 
September the 11th.
  Welcome Michael McCrory Wilson, who was born on April 11, 2008, at 
Lexington Medical Center, West Columbia, South Carolina.

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