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Fairbanks Roman Catholic Bishop Donald Kettler left for the nation’s capital on a red-eye flight this morning to participate in some of the welcoming events planned during Pope Benedict XVI’s six-day visit to the United States.

The pontiff arrives in Washington, D.C. today and will depart Friday for New York City and the final half of his journey.

Kettler said he is looking forward to hearing the pope’s message to the church in America.

“I’m going to hear what he considers important for the bishops of the United States and what I should be thinking about and praying about,” Kettler said.

“He thinks we have many blessings and many gifts, and I think he wants to make us aware of those gifts and to use them to bring justice to the world, human rights to the world and also, I hope, peace to the world.”

Kettler met the current pope in 2004 when he visited the Vatican to meet with Benedict’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II, for an ad limina visit — a required meeting with the pope — which bishops are required to make once every five years.

At the time, Pope Benedict was known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which oversees Catholic doctrine.

“(Ratzinger) and a couple of his staff met with us for an hour and half,” Kettler recalled.

“He is known for his openness and hospitality. He is very traditional and also a very warm person.

“That’s different from what you hear about him,” Kettler added. “He’s taken that hospitality into his office.”

Kettler said he expects to be among 350 or more bishops from around the country who will be on hand Wednesday, the pope’s 81st birthday, for a 5-7 p.m. vesper (evening) service and address to the bishops.

The service will be held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States. The basilica is located on the campus of Catholic University, where Kettler studied for two years while earning a degree in canon law.

Kettler will also take part in a ceremonial procession of clergy Thursday morning, when the pope celebrates Mass at the new Nationals Park in the District of Columbia, the first non-baseball event since its opening a few weeks ago.

Anchorage Archbishops, the Most Revs. Francis T. Hurley and Roger L. Schwietz, have also traveled to the lower 48 for the pope’s visit. In addition, approximately 30 Anchorage Diocese lay persons selected from a lottery received tickets to attend papal ceremonies in either Washington or New York City.

Kettler doesn’t expect to be meeting personally with the pontiff during his visit and will return to Fairbanks on Friday.