Boehner Sends Regrets, Pelosi Lobbies for Invite to Pope's Inauguration
House Speaker John Boehner, the nation's highest-ranking Catholic in the House of Representatives, declined an invitation today from President Obama to join the U.S. delegation to Pope Francis' papal investiture, while Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi unabashedly expressed her hope to attend the March 19 event.
Following his meeting with House Republicans at the Capitol Wednesday afternoon, where the president was passed a note and broke the news to lawmakers that the College of Cardinals had chosen a new pope, Obama invited Boehner to join Vice President Joe Biden as part of the U.S. delegation attending the pope's inauguration, according to a senior aide to the speaker.
"I am grateful for the invitation to attend the papal investiture in Rome with Vice President Biden, and would like to be able to join the trip. Unfortunately, my duties in the House next week - including hosting President Obama...