Vatican to scrap formal protocol when pope meets president

Vatican to scrap formal protocol when pope meets president

By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Benedict XVI and U.S. President George W. Bush meet at the Vatican June 13, they will scrap the usual formal protocol and instead hold talks and take a leisurely stroll in the Vatican Gardens.

The Vatican opted for the "particular" and "unusual" setting as a way to show its appreciation for "the cordial welcome and meeting held at the White House" during the pope's April 15-20 visit to the United States, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said June 9.

The rest of this article can be found here.