In the meantime, I've been doing some deep backgrounding on what the Pope might say on his travels to everyone from U.S. President George Bush at the White House to the United Nations General Assembly to American youth, not to mention assorted Catholic educators, ecumenical and interfaith leaders, bishops, priests, seminarians and even the occasional average person.

Fortunately, Pope Benedict has left a long list of publications (most as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) on many subjects. They are certainly not limited to theology. One small volume (Europe: Today and Tomorrow, published last year by Ignatius Press as a translation of the 2004 book Europa: I suoi fondamenti oggi e domani by Edizioni San Paolo) discusses the role of faith in an increasingly pluralistic society. While its obvious focus is a highly secularized European continent, then Cardinal Ratzinger makes some interesting comparisons to the United States. In his view, the U.S. model of free churches rigorously separated from state control or vice versa has allowed the American Roman Catholics to evolve along a considerably different path than their European relatives. But more on that later.

Interestingly enough, I've had little luck trying to find Canadians who will be down in Washington and New York for this historic visit. Since His Holiness has decided to turn down an invitation to attend the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City in June, it would be natural enough that some of the Canadian hierarchy might head south of the border to greet him on his first visit as Pope to North America. So you'd think, anyway.

No doubt there are some Canadians out there who will be going to see the Pope in action. If so, it would be great to link up with them to hear their observations. No doubt many other Canadian Catholics would be interested, too. If any of my readers can enlighten me on the attendance of Canadians for the papal visit, I'd be most grateful.