Bush, pope exchange gifts accompanied by lemon cake

(Source: Catholic News Service)

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- With the formal greetings out of the way, Pope Benedict XVI and President George W. Bush got down to serious business during their historic White House meeting April 16 -- the exchanging of presents.

On his 81st birthday, the pontiff received a lead crystal cross sculpture and a collection of American classical and religious compact discs from the president.

Even though the date didn't mark a birthday, anniversary or any other landmark occasion for Bush, the pope gave him a framed mosaic of St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

According to the Vatican press office, the mosaic belongs to an 18th-century style of panoramas and is based on a printing from the 19th century.

But no birthday would be complete without cake, so the White House served a four-layer, square lemon pound confection with lemon curd filling and vanilla fondant frosting.

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Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Editor's Note: More information about the pope's schedule while he is visiting the United States is available online at: www.uspapalvisit.org.