Diplomacy is the art of making nice to those who disagree with you. Expect President George W. Bush to be diplomatic April 15 when he welcomes Pope Benedict XVI to Washington. For that matter, expect the pope to be diplomatic as well.

Diplomacy is necessary because the pope has become increasingly critical of the violent aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. This is nothing new; Pope John Paul II opposed the invasion from the start.

Some Americans, of course, will see this as religious meddling that’s fueling anti-war fervor in an already contentious U.S. presidential election campaign.

But pope and president, following the rules of diplomacy, will still smile for the cameras on the White House steps the day after Pope Benedict arrives on his first papal visit to the U.S.

Exactly what Pope Benedict will say during his several talks and homilies on U.S. soil is unknown. Some commentators have suggested that he will soften the “hardball” image he often presented as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Others wonder if he’ll scold segments of the U.S. Church. New York Cardinal Edward Egan, however, has said he expects the pope’s message to be one of hope.

But certainly the pope’s past comments on the war, life and cultural issues will carry current weight, especially as American Catholics judge presidential candidates on those same topics.

The pope’s insistent voice on Iraq will surely please anti-war Democrats, while other comments – especially those on the dignity of life and how Catholics should form their consciences – will play well to Republicans.
Nevertheless, this pope will play it down the middle, echoing the U.S. bishops’ mandate for the Church in this election year. U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon has said she expects Pope Benedict to touch broadly on politics, though not in a partisan manner.

Still, the papal visit will almost certainly rub some people wrong.

For instance, whatever the pope says about the appalling clergy sex abuse crisis which has plagued the American Church this decade – if he says anything – will please some and not go far enough for others.

The address at the United Nations is another flashpoint. The pope is expected to focus on traditional Catholic themes of life, freedom, peace and justice, said Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican ambassador to the U.N.

Noble ideals, certainly, but coming from the man perceived by many to be the world’s leading moral authority they will seem condemnatory to some. This is especially true when they touch on abortion, human trafficking, war and terrorism.

Archbishop Migliore said the pope is also likely to speak on behalf of people passed over by economic prosperity, those who make up, he said, the “bottom billion.” This would surely include refugees and other immigrants, another touchy – and potentially political – subject in this country.

Before Pope Benedict leaves for home, America’s Catholics will experience the pomp and ceremony of another papal visit. They will parse the pope’s words, hear a message of faith and consider their connection to a Church that is larger than one nation or one people.

Despite the almost certain bumps in the road, that’s the primary role of the papal visitor to these shores: To give a sense of hope, to remind people of the centrality of faith, of the assurance of the love of God and to call them to better respond to that love.