Pope won't be the man who came to dinner

WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI will visit with U.S. President George Bush in Washington next week, but won't be attending the dinner given in his honor.

His non-presence was revealed Friday during a media briefing by White House spokesman Scott Stanzel when he was asked whether the pope would be attending the dinner.

"I don't believe so, no," Stanzel said.

Following up, Stanzel was asked again whether the pontiff would be among the guests in the East Room Wednesday evening.

"No," he said.

The dinner, he said, "is in honor of his visit. There will be leaders from the Catholic community from all over the country who are in town for that visit."

Stanzel said he doesn't know why Pope Benedict XVI won't be attending.

"I don't have the full extent of his schedule," he said.