Pope Bound for USA

(15 Apr 08 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI left Vatican City State at 11.20 Rome time Tuesday morning, for Fumicino Airport. There the Holy Father boarded a special AlItalia Boeing 777 bound for Washington DC on his 8th Apostolic voyage, his first as Pope to the United States of America.
Pope Benedict XVI is due to arrive in the US capital at 4pm local time. US President George W Bush plans to greet Pope Benedict when the jet touches down at Andrews Air Force Base. It will be the first time the president has greeted a foreign leader there.
Ahead of his departure the Holy Father sent telegrams to the heads of state of the nations he will be flying over. The telegrams are addressed to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Irish President Mary McAleese, and Micheaelle Jean, Govenor General of Canada.
Pope Benedict will spend six days in the US, visiting Washington and New York.