When Presidents Meet Popes

The Pope’s Washington visit on Wednesday morning to see President Bush will be just the second time the leader of Roman Catholics has been to the White House. President Bush will pick him up at the airport - the first time Bush has done that for any foreign leader. On top of that, Wednesday will be the pontiff's 81^st birthday. This will be the 25th meeting between a pope and a sitting president. The first came 1919 between Woodrow Wilson and Pope Benedict XV at the Vatican. In 1984, President Reagan stirred controversy by establishing formal US diplomatic relations with the Vatican. Four years ago, George W. Bush presented Pope John Paul with the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. The next year, Bush became the first sitting US president to attend a papal funeral.