Papal Visit

WASHINGTON (CBS) ― Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his 81st birthday with the highest pomp and pageantry Wednesday, his first full day in the United States. The pontiff was honored by President Bush and nearly 10,000 others during a morning ceremony on the White House's South Lawn.

Even Mother Nature paid her respects, presenting a strikingly fantastic backdrop thanks to a practically perfect spring day.

A 21-gun salute boomed in honor of the pope as the Marine Band played the national anthem of the Holy See and soloist Kathleen Battle sang The Lord's Prayer as the pope stood with President Bush. As the pontiff walked onto a stage with Mr. Bush, the crowd broke into a "Happy Birthday" chant in unison for the pope, a spontaneous moment of excitement certainly not mentioned on the program.

The love in the audience was evident.

A few yelled "Viva il Papa." Four toddlers sat on the grass with handmade signs, one reading "We love you pope of hope" and the other showing a birthday cake -- chocolate -- with an 81 on it. "Happy Birthday" was sung spontaneously at first early in the ceremony, and a formal, more full-throated version came at the end.

The president then welcomed Pope Benedict into America, saying the country needed Benedict's hope and prayers. 

"We need your message to reject this dictatorship of relativism and embrace a culture of justice and truth," Bush said in brief remarks welcoming Benedict to the White House. "In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do as they wish, we need your message that true liberty requires us to live our freedom not just for ourselves, but in a spirit of mutual support."

President Bush emphasized often the importance of upholding the pope as a voice of reason in increasingly tumultuous times.

"In a world where people treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred," he said.

And Benedict echoed that sentiment in his own message to the masses.

"God bless America," said Benedict robustly, to cheers from the excited throng. "I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society."

Following the welcome ceremony, the pope and the president made their way to the Oval Office to discuss the state of world events. In the private meeting, the two leaders largely focused on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Iraq war.

After the talks, the pope traveled to the Vatican's Embassy residence in Washington.

Along the route from the White House, the pontiff was met with cheers and well-wishes from the crowd lining the streets as he rode in the Popemobile, the vehicle built specially for Pope John Paul II.

"We want to welcome him and share our love with him," one spectator told CBS 2 as she stood with her two children.

Throngs of people lining Pennsylvania Avenue expressed their admiration and love for the successor to Saint Peter. And of course there were plenty of vendors taking advantage of the blessed opportunity, selling souvenirs and t-shirts.

"How can I let the pope come to town and not make money?" said Don Folden, one of the vendors. "I got his schedule in my pocket!"

For children, the procession was an opportunity to see a religious leader and world leader in one, something they can talk about for the rest of their lives.

"I was excited and I screamed, 'Your holiness!'" one young spectator said.

The pontiff has said he was looking forward to meeting a "great people and a great church" during his first papal journey to the United States. The six-day trip to Washington and New York City coincides not just with his birthday, but the three-year anniversary of his ascendancy to the Roman Catholic Church's top position. Nurturing the U.S. flock is a sensitive and important mission for Benedict at a time, not just of ongoing scandal in the American church but amid his campaign to tamp down secularism and re-ignite faith worldwide.

"I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the church in the United States and strengthens the resolve of Catholics to contribute even more responsibly to the life of this nation of which they are proud to be citizens," Benedict said at Bush's side during his White House speech.

Bush showed off America to its important visitor, ticking off what he said are its best virtues: a nation of prayer and compassion and one that is the most "innovative, creative and dynamic country on Earth" but also among the most religious.

"Most of all, Holy Father, you will find in America people whose hearts are open to your message of hope," Bush said.

Adela Arguello, a Department of Homeland Security worker from Miami was touched. "We're living in very terrible times and any message like this is important," she said. "He needed to come."

"How often in life do you get to sing Happy Birthday to the pope?" said Brenda Hawk, a Sunday school teacher from Centreville, Va. "Even if you're not Catholic, it's darn cool!" 

Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for live on-air and online video coverage of the pope's visit in America. Click here for complete coverage of the papal visit.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)