President and Mrs. Bush lead delegation to Rome

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Presidents Bush and Clinton will accompany President Bush to the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the White House announced Tuesday.

Also attending will be Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

President Bush and his wife, Laura, will lead the five-member group representing the United States at the funeral Friday at the Vatican in Rome, said White House press secretary Scott McClellan.

Bush said Tuesday that his attendance at the services would "pay our country's respect to a great world leader."

"He shows that one man can make an enormous difference," Bush said during a Social Security speech in Parkersburg, West Virginia "I look forward to honoring the memory of Pope John Paul II."

Bush will be the first sitting president to attend a pope's funeral. The pontiff died on Saturday, ending a quarter-century as leader of the Catholic Church.

Bush met with the pope three times during his presidency. The first meeting was on July 23, 2001, when he and the first lady visited Castel Gandolfo, the pope's summer residence south of Rome.

"I can remember him taking us out on the balcony of this fabulous palace overlooking a magnificent lake and talking about his views of the world," Bush said Monday. "It was a moment I'll never forget during my presidency."

US President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush visit Pope John Paul II at Castel Gandolfo near Rome, Italy, July 23, 2001. White House photo by Eric Draper

Bush said the pope will be remembered for the huge influence he had on the lives of young people around the world and how he demonstrated "that one man can make a difference in people's lives."

"He's a courageous person. He's a moral person. He was a godly person," Bush said. It is "my great honor, on behalf of our country, to express our gratitude to the Almighty for such a man. And of course we look forward to the majesty of celebrating such a significant human life."
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From Drudge:

BUSH PASSED OVER CARTER IN POPE FUNERAL PICK
President Bush selected his father and Bill Clinton over Jimmy Carter for the official delegation attending the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the Carter Center claimed Late Tuesday.

"President Carter expressed to the White House a desire to attend the Pope's funeral," an official said.

"The Carters always relish the memories of Pope John Paul II being a delightful personal guest at the White House in 1979, on a pope's only visit to our nation's capital city. Subsequently, they visited with His Holiness in the Vatican."

Carter "was subsequently informed that the official delegation would be limited to just five people, and there were also others who were eager to attend."

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Nothing is stopping Jimmy from getting on a plane and going to Rome if he really feels the need.

He didn't hesitate to make his own travel plans when it came to hanging out with Castro in 2002.