If everyone interested in Pope Benedict XVI's April 15 - 20, 2008, visit to the United States had been tuned in to the Catholic Church for the last 2,000, there'd be no need for this blog. You'd immediately recognize the implications of everything the Pope says and does, and be able to easily negotiate the "Vaticanese": that language particular to the Church that you will no doubt encounter in the week ahead.

But most of us aren't immersed 24/7 in the culture, politics, history and theology of the Roman Catholic Church and its interaction with the surrounding culture -- so this blog is here to help. I plan to offer some background on this Pope (including clips of an interview I conducted with Benedict before his election to the papacy ) and highlight personalities, events, and ideas the press might have overlooked. I'll try to bring some context to the coverage, drawing attention to themes and utterances that might elude others.

As the News Director of EWTN, the Global Catholic Network, and host of its international news magazine, "The World Over" I have covered the interaction of faith and culture for 12 years. Throughout the papal visit I will be anchoring our live coverage of Pope Benedict's every move on EWTN. I've also authored two New York Times bestselling books: "Mother Angelica"
(Doubleday) and "Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality" (Doubleday).

I hope you'll join me here during Benedict's journey -- and beyond.