Your Crib Sheet for the Pope's Visit

Pope Benedict XVI lands in the U.S. today and stays until Sunday. There will be an overwhelming number of stories written and broadcast over the next several days.


To save you time and confusion, here's everything you need to know about his visit:

1. The Pope is Catholic.
2. As the earthly head of the Catholic church, he supports its doctrines, beliefs, and practices.
3. Not everybody else in the world is Catholic.
4. Some people, even Catholics, don't agree with the Pope's views.
5. Calls for change and "progress" won't sway the Pope to abandon the historic tenets of the faith, any more than an appeal to declare "2+2=5" would entice him.
6. The Pope is not running for office, and he is not a contestant on American Idol.

I think that about covers it, but feel free to add to this list. Refer to the list often if you get confused by all the muddleheaded reporting. Otherwise, pay attention to what he says (and not as much what others say about what he says) . . . he might actually have some interesting things to say.