The White House is to stage a previously unscheduled dinner for Pope Benedict XVI when he visits United States President George W. Bush next Wednesday, a spokesperson announced here Thursday night.
The previous schedule envisaged a ceremony in the Rose Garden and talks in the Oval Office, both on Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday afternoon the pope will meet US bishops at Washington's National Shrine church.
The White House dinner in honour of the pope's visit will begin at 19:30 local and will be off-limits to the press, the spokesperson said.
The pope arrives in Washington on Tuesday evening.
On Friday he will travel to New York to address the United Nations.
His visit will end on Sunday evening.
