Pope leaves Rome for visit to United States

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict left Rome on Tuesday on a flight to Washington on his first trip to the United States as pontiff.

The specially chartered Alitalia Boeing 777 left Rome's Fiumicino airport on a flight to Andrews Air Force Base, where the pope will be met by President George W. Bush.

Bush will also receive the pope at an official welcoming ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, when the pontiff turns 81.

The pope will also mark the third anniversary of his election during the trip, and moves on to New York on Friday to address the United Nations.

He ends the trip on Sunday after visiting Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center towers which were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.