I've been wondering why Jimmy Carter was excluded from the delegation to the Vatican for the Pope's funeral. I remember reading somewhere that the Vatican and the Whitehouse made the decision to limit the delegation to 5 people.

Right me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Carter was the first president to host Pope John Paul at the White House.

Do you think that either Laura Bush or Condoleezza Ricepudding should have been excluded, or the limit could have been 6?

I personally don't see any problem with who was chosen.

"Right me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Carter was the first president to host Pope John Paul at the White House."

He was indeed the first president to invite this Pope to the White House. Of course, this Pope wasn't the Pope before Carter, so he was the first with the opportunity to do that. What is of more significance is that Carter was the first to invite any pope to the White House.

Much has been written and said about this. Here is a Washington Post article which seems to give level coverage.

(Note: This is in the Pittsburgh paper and requires no sign-up to view)

Thanks Methos for the clarification. I wasn't exactly sure if I was right.

Oh, thanks for the link Fuse. I hadn't heard this mentioned in the news, but if Carter was indeed invited, and being the nice person that he is, I can understand him giving someone else the chance. I just wonder if he was really invited for certain.

Leppi, each one of us see things out of a different eye. To me, there was something wrong with the picture.

Carter had expressed an interest to go to the funeral and then was told that there really wasn't room for him --- I think that it would have been more appropriate for Carter to be there than for Laura or Condi.

Were three Bushes needed? Laura should have been left off the list and Carter included. After all who was more entitled?

More Bush diplomacy to make the world love us.