POPE BENEDICT
XVI’S BIRTHDAY The Italian Embassy
PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON
THE EVENT: The Washington National Opera and the
Italian Embassy jointly hosted a VIP reception in honor
of the pontiff ’s 81st birthday. Rumors that he would
personally attend (despite an offi cial line to the contrary)
fueled the high attendance and even higher security
levels. THE SCENE: After passing through a receiving
line of current and former ambassadors to the Holy
See, guests were treated to a performance by WNO
mezzo-soprano star Denyce Graves before joining in a
rousing rendition of Happy Birthday. THE GUESTS: Lindy Boggs and Tommy Boggs, Gov. Howard Dean,
Hungarian Frenec and Andrea Somogyi, Gen. Peter
Pace and Linda Pace, Paul Pelosi, and Patricia Kluge.
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