White House Aide Has 'Goosebumps' About Pope's Visit
(CBS) -- No one is immune from being overwhelmed at the prospect of meeting Pope Francis when he comes to Washington, D.C.
Not even Valerie Jarrett, top aide to President Obama, whose boss is meeting with the pontiff.
The Chicagoan says she has "goosebumps" from all the excitement and attention.
"It's definitely daunting, but it's a moment we should all embrace," Jarrett tells CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine, who is covering the pope's visit.
The president and the pope have met before, 18 months ago at the Vatican. It was at that meeting the president invited Pope Francis to come to the United States.
Fifteen thousand people have been invited to attend the public portion of the event this week. The meeting in the Oval Office will be private. A White House spokesman says the two are expected to talk about values, not politics.
For Jarrett, the significance of the meeting and the visit can't be overstated.
"We are so excited about having his holiness Pope Francis," she says.
It's clearly a big event. Already Washington is bracing for gridlock due to security and street closings, and even reporters credentialed for covering nearby events and cleared by the Secret Service have to leave hours early to get there on time