Rome: It was a historic moment: George W. Bush was the first president of the U.S. to participate in burying a Pope - despite his controversy with the Pontiff over the Iraq War. Loud booing was heard, when on a large television monitor carried a close-up of the President and Mrs. Bush.

George W. Bush had also brought a high-ranking delegation to Rome, which included his father, George [H.W.] Bush, his predecessor, Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. At St. Peter's Square, Bush sat in the second row of honored guests. The seats were arranged in alphabetical order, after the French names for each nation. Beside Bush sat French President Jacques Chirac. About 40 members of the U.S. Congress were also in attendance. The huge crowd gathered in the Square reacted with booing and catcalls when a large television monitor carried a close-up of the President and Mrs. Bush.