This afternoon, Pope Benedict's Shepherd One will touch down at Andrews Air Force Base, where the Pontiff will be greeted by President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. He won't be giving any public statements, but will have various meetings on his 81st birthday eve.
The Pope, who will spend a few days in D.C. before coming to NYC, told reporters on the flight today that he was "deeply ashamed" of Catholic priests who abused generations of young parishioners, "It is more important to have good priests than many priests...It is difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betray in this way their mission ... to children"
Still, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is asking the United Nations to "investigate the pope's role in what they say is a cover up of sexual abuse in the church." And many see Pope Benedict's trip will as an opportunity to encourage more young Catholics to become priests. The Journal News reported the NY Archdiocese is ranked 170th--out of 176 Catholic dioceses in the country-- for seminarians studying for the priesthood.
There's a lot of excitement for this highly choreographed Papal Visit. Millions are being spent in D.C. and NYC for the visit, which can be commemorated by buying Pope swag. While Pope-on-a-rope Soap is hilarious, we think this Obama-inspired Pope poster is funnier.
Limited edition POPE poster from ANIMAL





The Pope is coming! Get some Kleenex!
Ugh. I hope that government funds are not used for this ridiculous circus. Let the Catholic church pay his way.
The last thing we need to do is to encourage more decent, upstanding, intelligent men to leave the dating pool.
Bidnit: Since the Pope is also technically a head of state, we're all paying.
Darryl Strawberry tells us the REAL reason for the Pope's visit:
http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/1455
Hey gothamist! The link to the Obama-inspired Pope poster leads to the same ANIMAL poster?!
that's the best pope poster I have ever seen.
"The Pope is coming! Get some Kleenex!"
Blasphemer. This is the POPE we're talking about. He needs a towel, not just a Kleenex.
isnt he a nazi war criminal or something like that?
im selling the pope's face printed on toilet paper on jesusdildo.com
of course im also selling jesus dildos
because when you grew up with god shoved down your throat theres nothing better than shoving god up your ass!
If I were into Popobelia I would so buy this, but I'm not. I checked out the site anyway, and the poster has a limited edition run of 666!