Vice President Biden to Lead Presidential Delegation to Attend the Mass for the Inauguration of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Francis

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President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration Mass celebrating the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Francis, which will take place on March 19, 2013.

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden Jr., Vice President of the United States, will lead the delegation. 

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Susana Martinez, Governor of the State of New Mexico

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the United States House of Representatives and United States Representative from California

Dr. John J. DeGioia, President, Georgetown University

President Obama discusses the need to harness American energy in order to reduce our dependence on oil and make the United States a magnet for new jobs. He highlights his all-of-the-above approach to American energy -- including a proposal to establish an Energy Security Trust, which invests in research that will help shift our cars and trucks off of oil.

In the first foreign trip of his second term in office, President Obama will meet with the new Israeli government and speak to the Israeli people, as well as meet with the Palestinian leadership and the King of Jordan.

Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov.

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President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Sierra Leone to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma

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For Immediate Release February 20, 2013 President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Sierra Leone to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Sierra Leone to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma on February 22, 2013.

The Honorable Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Acting-Director of the Peace Corps, will lead the delegation.

Member of the Presidential Delegation:

Ms. Kathleen FitzGibbon, Chargé d'Affaires, United States Embassy to the Republic of Sierra Leone

Blog posts on this issue February 21, 2013 5:39 PM ESTWest Wing Week: 02/22/13 or “A Single Sacred Word: Citizen” February 21, 2013 1:10 PM ESTA Balanced Plan to Avert the Sequester and Reduce the Deficit

President Obama has already reduced the deficit by over $2.5 trillion, cutting spending by over $1.4 trillion, bringing domestic discretionary spending to its lowest level as a share of the economy since the Eisenhower era.

February 21, 2013 12:53 PM ESTDon't Miss Out! Tickets Lottery for the 2013 Easter Egg Roll Opens Today

Enter today for a chance to join President Obama and the First Family on the South Lawn for a day of singing, dancing and egg rolling.

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Parents of slain Chicago teen to attend State of the Union

The parents of 15-year-old Chicago shooting victim Hadiya Pendleton will be among Michelle Obama's guests at the State of the Union address on Tuesday night.

The first lady attended the funeral of Pendleton, who performed at the presidential inauguration, on Saturday. 

Her parents, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton and Nathaniel Pendleton, will be in Obama's box in the House chamber to watch President Obama's speech, a White House official said. 

The first lady did not speak at the service but was seen comforting Cowley-Pendleton.

The teen was shot and killed on Jan. 29. in a park close to the Obamas' home on Chicago's South Side in a case of mistaken identity. Two men have been arrested in connection with her death, although no charges have been filed.

On Friday, the president will visit Chicago to talk about gun violence, which he is also expected to discuss in his State of the Union speech.

— This story was last updated at 1:06 p.m.

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Obama, Biden families attend church service

President Obama and his family made the short trip to St. John's Episcopal Church on Monday morning for the traditional Inauguration Day church service.

The Obamas will be joined at the service by Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill. The group made the short trip from the White House across Lafayette Square Park via motorcade.

The Rev. Luis León, pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church, will also be offering the benediction at the president's inauguration later in the morning. He replaced Atlanta pastor Louie Giglio, who removed his name from the Inaugural program after reports of anti-gay comments he made during sermons in the 1990s.

The church, which opened in 1816, has been visited by every president of the United States since then. It features a bell that was cast by the son of Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere, and also contains a special pew that is reserved for when the president is in attendance. Some early presidents, including James Madison, were communicants at St. John's. León noted that the church had hosted the preinaugural service 11 times, dating back to Franklin D. Roosevelt's swearing-in.

The sermon was given by pastor Andy Stanley from North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, who thanked the president for his work after the Newtown, Conn. school shooting, commenting that he president should be called the "Pastor in Chief."

He then delivered a sermon centered around the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples to show that even the most important person in the room should work as a servant.

"You leverage that power for the benefit of other people in the room," he said.  "Mr. President, you have an awfully big room."

Bishop Vacti Mckenzie then offered a blessing to the president and vice president, who prayed to "bless this administration with both favor and grace" and "give them the resources and people necessary to get the job done."

The president also tweeted during his time at the church, his first public comment of the day:

I'm honored and grateful that we have a chance to finish what we started. Our work begins today. Let's go. -bo

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 21, 2013

The trip outside also provided the first glance of what first lady Michelle Obama would be wearing for the day's Inaugural events. The first lady donned a navy Thom Browne coast and dress, coupled with a belt, shoes and accessories from J. Crew.

Upon returning to the White House, Obama's eldest daunter, Malia, looked to interject some levity into the day. Traveling in a separate limousine with her grandmother, Malia jumped out of the car and snuck up on the president, shouting "Boo!" as he emerged.

"You scared me!" Obama said, before entering the executive mansion with the Bidens for a coffee with congressional leaders.

This post was updated at 10:33 a.m.

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President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to Ghana to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama

President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to Ghana to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama | The White House Skip to main content | Skip to footer site map The White House. President Barack Obama Get Email UpdatesContact Us Go to homepage. The White House Blog Photos & Videos Photo Galleries Video Performances Live Streams Podcasts 2012: A Year in Photos

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For Immediate Release January 03, 2013 President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to Ghana to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to Accra, Ghana to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President-elect of the Republic of Ghana on January 7, 2013.
The Honorable Daniel W. Yohannes, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Gene Cretz, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana
The Honorable Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State
The Honorable Donald Teitelbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State

Blog posts on this issue January 04, 2013 6:12 PM ESTJoin President Obama in a National Day of Service

The Presidential Inaugural Committee announces a National Day of Service on January 19, 2013

January 04, 2013 6:05 PM ESTJoin President Obama in a National Day of Service

The Presidential Inaugural Committee announces a National Day of Service on January 19, 2013

January 04, 2013 2:55 PM EST2012: A Year in Photos

Each January, Pete Souza, Chief Official White House Photographer and Director of the White House Photography Office selects his favorite images from the past twelve months, and now, we're sharing them with you.

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