The pilgrimage begins

As of this writing, the flight that is already being dubbed Shepherd One is en route toward Andrew's Airforce Base. Aboard are a number of acredited journalists and the papal entourage. Benedict XVI will begin his first official visit to the United States at 4:00 pm Eastern Time today. As you might expect, the media are having lots of fun with this visit. Live feeds of the visit will soon appear on the website of the United States Episcopal Conference and EWTN.

In a rare press conference, Benedict XVI spoke to journalists aboard his flight about the shame he feels because of sexual abuse committed by some members of the clergy in the United States. This press conference is no doubt intended to set the tone for the subjects that will be discussed during the Holy Father's three-day visit.

• Pope's comments aboard Shepherd One

According to the itinerary of the visit, the Holy Father will be greeted at Andrew's Airforce Base by President George Bush, Jr and his wife. In addition, the President of the USCCB, Francis Cardinal George (Archbishop of Chicago); the USCCB Vice-president, His Excellency, Gerald Kicanas; the General Secretary of the USCCB, Msgr. David Malloy; the Archbishop of Washington, DC, His Excellency, Donald Wuerl, the Auxiliary Bishops of Washington and the Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of the USA, His Excellency, Timothy Broglio will be on hand for the greeting ceremony.

Among the most highly anticipated of these visits is a speech he is scheduled to give to the students at the Catholic University of America on Thursday. As you may expect, preparations for this visit are being planned in minute detail, including instructions for those who will distribute communion during the Mass which will be celebrated in Yankee Stadium in New York City this weekend.

One thing's for sure, this visit is surely causing a stir. Amid all the pomp, ceremony and colour, what, I wonder, will be the lasting effect of this gesture of pastoral care? Will the Catholics of the USA find words of peace, joy, inspiration from the mouth of the Successor of Peter, the chief shepherd?