BANGOR – Sen. Susan Collins wasn’t invited to a White House dinner with Pope Benedict XVI during his first visit to the United States this week even though she’ll be there earlier in the day to welcome him.

“One of my Catholic colleagues in the Senate has been giving me a really hard time about it,” Collins said Saturday in Bangor. “It turns out, I’m the one who will be having dinner with the pope.”

The White House announced Friday that the pontiff would not attend the dinner that had been planned in his honor. Instead, he will dine at the Italian Embassy.

Maine’s junior Republican senator was invited to that dinner to be held Wednesday. She was allowed to invite one guest. Collins asked Sister Mary Norberta, president of St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor, to accompany her.

“I’m delighted I can share this with her,” said Collins, whose Bangor home is within walking distance of the nun’s.

The pope is scheduled to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. He will be the first pontiff to visit the nation’s capital since 1979.

In addition to the White House event and embassy dinner on Wednesday, he will hold a private prayer service with American bishops, including Maine’s Bishop Richard J. Malone.

Benedict will celebrate Mass on Thursday morning at the new stadium, Nationals Park. Collins, her guest from Bangor and Rep. Michael Michaud, who is Catholic, are scheduled to attend along with more than 40,000 others.

On Friday morning the pope will head to New York City where he will address the United Nations and conduct an ecumenical prayer service at St. Joseph Catholic Church, founded by German Catholics. On Saturday, the pope will celebrate Mass for priests, deacons and members of religious orders at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and meet with young Catholics in Yonkers.

He will conclude his trip Sunday with a visit to the site of the World Trade Center disaster and a Mass at Yankee Stadium.

“As a Catholic, I am overwhelmed by the fact that in my lifetime I will have met two popes,” Collins said. “I met Pope John Paul II in Rome and went to his funeral.”

Benedict was elected pope on April 19, 2005, succeeding the charismatic and popular John Paul, who was pope for 26 years.

“I’d much rather meet the pope than a movie star,” the senator said. “It’s inspiring. It helps deepen my faith. It makes me feel humble and unworthy that I have this opportunity when many people don’t have the opportunity.”

Michaud, a Democrat from Millinocket, called the pope’s worldwide reach “unparalleled.”

“On this historic occasion, I’m honored to have the opportunity to share in this special moment,” Michaud said in a statement issued Friday. “I am especially interested to hear the pope speak about ending violence and promoting human rights around the world.”

Collins attends Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church the Sundays when she’s in Bangor, and in Washington, D.C., when she must remain in the capital. She said that going to Mass every week helps ground her.

“I could never stop being a Catholic,” she said. “It strengthens me for the work I do in Washington. The church’s teachings about caring for the least of those in society are important to me, and the Catholic tradition of serving others is one of the reasons I’m in public service.”

Sister Norberta saw Benedict two years ago in Rome but said she is eager to meet him in what may be a smaller gathering at the embassy dinner.

“I told the sisters that if I get to shake his hand, I’m going to wrap it up and not wash it until I get back and touch them,” she said last week.

Catholics in Maine and across the country are eager to hear what message Benedict will bring to them.

“I think they’re looking to this leader,” Sister Norberta said, “to re-emphasize the need for world peace. Not to get into politics of it, but as a world leader, I believe he wants to see world peace and tolerance for other religions.

“I think he very clearly wants to re-emphasize the role of Christ in church,” she continued. “Our true leader is our Lord Jesus and he’s with us.”

Sister Norberta also said Benedict’s message would be a bit different from his predecessor’s.

“John Paul II said, ‘Do not be afraid,'” she said. “This pope is saying ‘Take heart. Have hope. Stay with Christ and stay with the tenets of the church for that’s the right path.’ He’s re-emphasizing things.”

Malone, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, also spoke of hope in a statement issued Friday.

“The Holy Father comes into our midst to remind us that Jesus Christ is the reason for our hope and the source of our healing,” the leader of Maine’s 191,000 Catholics said. “He comes, too, with hope in his heart that his pastoral ministry among us may, with God’s help, ignite the flame of renewed faith and strengthened commitment among the Catholic people.”

Malone is scheduled to fly to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. He will attend a private prayer service with the other 349 U.S. bishops early Wednesday evening at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Malone also will attend the Mass at Nationals Park.

For more information, visit www.uspapalvisit.org. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

jharrison@bangordailynews.net

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