What the President said to 'His Holy Father'

I couldn't begin to make this as Three Stoogesworthy as The Guardian already has, so I won't even try. I'll simply give you a few excerpts. But you should really take the time to read this one:

He really is priceless. Other world leaders see the Pope with their advisers and the Vatican's peerlessly punctilious protocol experts, making sure they do not commit the slightest gaffe. But George W. Bush can outwit them all. On the plane to Rome, he was already struggling.
[...]
...somewhere in the tumble dryer that is the part of the US President's brain set aside for words, the two concepts [of how to refer to the Pope] got tangled and he told Associated Press: 'I think His Holy Father will be pleased to know that much of our foreign policy is based on the admonition to whom much is given, much is required.'

No doubt Pope Benedict, whom Bush later described as 'very smart', was able to deconstruct the rest of the sentence.
[...]
'It's good to be with you, sir,' said Bush as he sat down. But it was just one of those days for George W. Even the car broke down.

Oh, GW, you scamp, did you forget that "sir" is a no-no, too? And, indeed, the Bush Mobile did break down, and they were quickly ushered into another car. But, uh-ohhhhh:

Just as unclear was how the wide presidential limo could get through the gates of the US embassy. It couldn't. The presidential couple had to walk in.

Just...go...read.