Is the Bush Catholic?

The Catholic Register reports on President Bush's plans to see the Pope again on his next European tour.

It will essentially be a courtesy call, and will come just a couple of months after the President played host to Benedict XVI at the White House. It’s not clear exactly when Mr. Bush will come here, but sources say the meeting is likely to take place on June 13 – almost exactly a year since the President last visited the Pope.

It will be the third time the two men have met officially, and Mr. Bush’s fifth visit to the Vatican. That’s naturally led to speculation that the President, a Methodist, is considering becoming a Catholic, although there is no hard evidence to suggest that that’s true.

What’s more probable is that the main purpose of his trip to Italy is to greet his old friend Silvio Berlusconi, who was elected back into power in April, and it would have appeared rude not to call in on the Pope while he was here. Though it does underline how close this administration is to the Vatican on many issues.