by Mark Silva

The White House is promising the Pope the Rose Garden.

The Bush administration is organizing a "unique'' Rose Garden ceremony as it finalizes plans for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI next week. "There is great excitement throughout the staff regardless of one’s religious affiliation,” says White House Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagin. “This is a very special day.”

Hagin, together with Anita Bride, the first lady's chief of staff, held a roundtable discussion with members of faith-based media to give an inside look at the White House preparations. “As a Catholic,'' McBride said, "this is an enormous honor for me and a privilege to work on some small aspect of this visit.''

The staff has prepared a ceremony that reflects the usual details reserved for heads of state, together with “very appropriate and warm additions.” McBride notes that nearly 10,000 people will attend the ceremony surrounding the pope's arrival on the South Lawn on Wednesday.

A number of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will be present during the ceremony, along with members of Catholic Charities and community volunteers. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps will don their Revolutionary regalia for a presentation during the ceremony and will honor the Holy Father with the 21 gun salute, a typical gesture for a visiting head of state.

“We wanted to focus on making it a warm welcome, not just a speech on the lawn.” said Hagin.

Following the Rose Garden ceremony, the President and the Holy Father will hold a private meeting in the White House, lasting perhaps 45 minutes. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone will also meet separately during the papal visit.

With thanks to Charlie Spiering of the National Catholic Register.