The papal funeral is pretty far from my usual beat, but there was a tidbit in the AP late last week that caught my attention.
Bush was close to the front of the section reserved for world leaders, who are being seated in alphabetical order in French. The United States in French is Etats-Unis. A parallel section will seat Catholic leaders.
Bush sat on the aisle in the second row, next to his wife, Laura. Beside them were French President Jacques Chirac and his wife, Bernadette. The two presidents shook hands.
When Bush’s face appeared on giant screen TVs showing the ceremony, many in the crowds outside St. Peter’s Square booed and whistled. (emphasis added)
Let me get this straight, many Catholic pilgrims were booing — at the pope’s funeral — at the very sight of the president on a TV screen. Want to talk about unpopular? That’s unpopular.
Somehow I suspect another European “charm offensive” won’t make much difference.