Even for a city like Washington D.C., that is used to its regular influx of world leaders flying in and out, this week has been breathless. What might come as a surprise to many, most of the excitement is reserved neither for Chinese President Xi Jinping, nor for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the Pope. His six-day, three-city and over a dozen private and public event visit has been described as a cross between a “military operation, a diplomatic mission and an arena-rock tour.”
With over twenty percent Americans professing their faith in Roman Catholicism, the excitement is understandable. This is Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States, and also the first time that President Obama will welcome a Pope to the White House. The media frenzy has been reflecting public enthusiasm, with little mention of any other high level visitor.
It is not just the attention of American media that Modi and Xi are vying for, but also of the administration and of the American business.