8.15pm BST / 3.15pm ET Thousands gather to greet Pope at White House
Miguel Lenarduzzi travelled for 24 hours by van from Texas to join more than 13,000 of the faithful from across the US to welcome Pope Benedict XVI to Washington today.
"We made a long trip. We are tired. But our faith is bigger than that. The thousands of people here just want to say hi to the Pope," the 43-year-old waiter said.
With the country in the grip of Pope-mania, about 9,000 gathered on the White House lawn to hear the pontiff. Another 4,000-plus without tickets, like Lenarduzzi, lined the streets outside to sing, pray and catch a glimpse of his motorcade.
The Pope, making his first visit to the US since his election in 2005, was greeted on the White House lawn by President Bush, and given a 21-gun salute and a serenade from a top opera singer.
Spectators sang happy birthday to Benedict — 81 today — who smiled, clasped his hands together and bowed in acknowledgement.
Lenarduzzi, who travelled in a convoy of nine vans from Dallas, had four hours' sleep before getting up early to bag a spot in the street close to the White House. He and his noisy, banner-waving and guitar-playing retinue plan to follow the Pope for the next six days.
The crowds have caught the US by surprise. There had been an expectation that this Pope, only the second to visit the White House, might not generate the same fervour as his predecessor, whose charisma he does not share.
Addressing the crowd outside the White House, he delivered a short address in halting, barely audible English. A strong critic of the Iraq war, he avoided any mention of it, or any other reference that might embarrass his host.
Instead, he concentrated on saying he had "great respect for this vast pluralistic society". He ended with a call of "God bless America".
The only remark in any way critical was a call to support the UN, a target of the Bush administration. The Pope called for support "for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress."
In stark contrast, Bush used the occasion to make several explicit political points. He declared that the visit was a reminder to Americans to "distinguish between simple right and wrong". He added: "We need your message to reject this dictatorship of relativism and embrace a culture of justice and truth."
Bush told the pontiff that in America "you'll find a nation that welcomes the role of religion in the public square" and that "in a world where some evoke the name of God to justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we need your message that God is love. And embracing this love is the surest way to save man from falling prey to the teaching of fanaticism and terrorism".
At a private meeting afterwards, Bush presented him with a birthday cake. The Pope, as he had promised, then raised the Iraq war and his concern for the treatment of illegal immigrants in the US, who make up an estimated 12 million to 20 million of the population, most of them Latino.
Back on Pennsylvania Avenue, decked out in the red, white and blue of the US and the yellow and white flag of the Holy See, was another who had travelled a long way, Alex Bengoa, 33, an IT manager from New Orleans.
He is sleeping with 300 others in a gym provided by a parish on the outskirts of the city. He too will follow the Pope to New York but did not know where he would stay: "In New York, the Lord will provide."
Dancing and singing behind him was Kevin Waymel, 26, who travelled from San Francisco with 80 others, the youngest of whom was 12 and the oldest in her 60s, a mixture of Latinos, Anglos and African-Americans.
He said his faith had helped get him off drugs and he wanted to "come to show support for the Holy Father".
There were few public protests. About 200 people held banners objecting to various aspects of Catholic orthodoxy, as well as the sexual abuse scandal.
Bush is set to hold a dinner in honour of the Pope at the White House tonight, with a menu heavy on Bavarian food. But it will be a dinner with the guest of honour missing. The Pope has chosen to spend the evening with his bishops.
Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the crowd upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, April 15, 2008.
Pope Benedict XVI began his visit to the United States on Tuesday. In an unprecedented gesture, he was greeted by President George W. Bush, Laura Bush and their daughter Jenna, upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Today, which is also the Pope's 81st birthday, Benedict XVI visited the White House and more than 9,000 people with tickets were there to see him speak. This makes it "one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House," according to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. An estimated additional 4,000 people without tickets lined the streets.
Benedict XVI addresses the gathered crowd today at the South Lawn.
The Pope was given a 21-gun salute and greeted by President Bush on the South Lawn of the White House. Benedict XVI addressed the crowd in a short speech. He appealed for support "for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress."

He further said, "As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, 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." Benedict said he has "great respect for this vast pluralistic society" and ended his speech with "God bless America."

Kevin Waymel, 26, travelled from San Francisco with 80 others to see the Pope. He told ''The Guardian'' that he had "come to show support for the Holy Father," and credited his faith for getting him off drugs.
Laura Bush present a birthday cake to Benedict XVI.
Afterwards, inside the White House, the first couple presented the Pope with a birthday cake. In a private meeting with Bush, Benedict XVI brought up his concerns about the Iraq war and the treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States, who may number as many as 20 million. Most of these are from Latin America and therefore overwhelmingly Catholic.

After the meeting, Benedict XVI rode along Pennsylvania Avenue in the popemobile with throngs of people lining the street.

Wednesday evening, the Pope met with US bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He addressed the bishops about sexual abuse by the clergy, which the Pope has said made him "deeply ashamed." The US Catholic Church has paid out an estimated US$2 billion to settle abuse cases in recent years.

Bendict XVI told the gathered bishops that the sex abuse scandal had at times been mishandled and urged them to reach out to the victims.
Children along Pennsylvania Avenue wait for the popemobile to pass before them.
"It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged," the Pope said.

Some victims had hoped the Pope would have critcised bishops for transferring pedophile priests from parish to parish. He did not go that far and instead praised training programs for priests and lay people who deal with children. "In this regard your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly under your pastoral care, but for all of society," said Benedict XVI.
Benedict XVI passes the White House in the popemobile
"It's the closest the Pope has come to saying that the bishops didn't do their job right. I think that's quite significant," said the Reverend Thomas J. Reese, a Jesuit priest and author.

Prior to his arrival, hundreds of people were already gathered outside the Basilica as Benedict XVI arrived. "I'm really excited," said an unnamed onlooker to NY1. "It's like a dream, almost. There are, like, other foreign dignitaries, and then there's the pope. It's a unique experience and I can't wait to see him."

During his flight to the United States, Benedict XVI told reporters that he intended to discuss poverty and development aid to poor countries with President Bush. "The United States has to help these countries develop. It is in the interest of everyone, not only these countries but of the world and particularly of the United States," he said.

This is the first Papal visit to the United States by Benedict XVI, and the first visit of a Pope to the U.S. since John Paul II's visit in 1999. The pope scheduled to stay in Washington through Thursday. After that, he will travel to New York City where he plans to address the United Nations, visit the World Trade Center site, and celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium.