ROME, April 15 (RIA Novosti) - Pope Benedict XVI left Rome on Tuesday for a six-day tour of the United States, the Italian news agency Apcom reported.
Benedict XVI, who will turn 81 tomorrow, is set to meet with President George W. Bush in the White House, visit the United Nations headquarters in New York, and read a prayer at Ground Zero, the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Italian media said the pope and Bush are likely to discuss problems faced by Christians in Iraq and the Holy See's stance on same-sex marriages and abortions.
In a speech before the UN General Assembly on April 18, Benedict will touch upon human rights and traditional family values.
The White House press service said George and Laura Bush will greet the pontiff at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C.
