First Lady Gets Pope's Blessing for Trip to Turin

VATICAN CITY, Feb. 9, 2006 — -- First lady Laura Bush secured the blessings of no less than Pope Benedict XVI to travel "in peace" to the Olympics in Turin, Italy.

On the eve of the opening of the Winter Games, Mrs. Bush and one of her twin daughters, Barbara, were welcomed with open arms to a private audience with the pontiff in his Vatican library. Both women, as is the custom, were dressed head-to-toe in black. The first lady wore a shoulder length mantilla of black lace to cover her head, while 24-year-old Barbara wore a high-style black jacket and skirt, and boots with stilleto heels.

Mrs. Bush asked whether Rome seemed less crowded because so many Italians have headed north to the foothills of the Alps for the Olympic Games, which begin this weekend. The last time the president and first lady were in Rome was for the massive funeral for the late Pope John Paul II.

At an afternoon awards ceremony at Gemelli Hospital, where the late pontiff was treated before his death, Mrs. Bush praised a burgeoning Italian breast cancer treatment program inspired by the successful Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure events, which started in the first-family's home state of Texas.

Mrs. Bush also introduced to the medical crowd the American Olympic legends traveling with her to the Turin games, who included speed skater Eric Heiden and figure skater Debi Thomas, medal-winning athletes who are now both orthopedic surgeons in the United States.

Mrs. Bush will greet the American Olympians competing this year in Turin shortly before she enters the stadium for opening ceremonies Friday night. The first lady hopes to sample some of the opening-day competition when pairs skaters and men's speed skaters kick off the 2006 Games.