Benedict XVI Ready to Meet America

By Victor L. Simpson
Associated Press Writer
Tue, Apr. 15 2008

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Next up for Pope Benedict XVI: a welcoming nation that wants to get to know him.

Benedict's first trip to the United States as pope begins Tuesday — a five-day visit to Washington and New York, including a speech at the United Nations. Anyone expecting strident speeches from the man once called "God's rottweiler" for his role defending Roman Catholic doctrine will be disappointed.

Benedict will deliver an unwavering message that society needs religious values, but this intellectual pontiff will do it in the most positive way possible. After making relatively little headway in his efforts to re-ignite the faith in Europe, America's roughly 65 million Catholics seem anxious to hear him. the rest

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