Thursday: The President in Italy

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Thursday – all times US Eastern

5:30 AM: President Obama has an audience with Pope Francis, The Vatican

Not sure if there’ll be live streaming of the meeting, try White House Live and this Italian channel which the wondrous JER found for us earlier

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Tomorrow: #HopeMeetsPope. (Pic via: @TheObamaDiary) #Obama #p2 pic.twitter.com/ymBI75ZXKu

— Eric Wolfson (@EricWolfson) March 26, 2014

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7:25 AM: Participates in a bilateral meeting with President Giorgio Napolitano of Italy, Quirinal Palace, Rome

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9:25 AM: Participates in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy, Villa Madama, Rome

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10:35 AM: Holds a joint press conference with Prime Minister Matteo

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11:40 AM: Tours the Colosseum

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President Obama tours the Colosseum tomorrow, Fox News will think it’s just some place that lost roof in recent storm pic.twitter.com/jHw2JedlRD

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) March 26, 2014

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In the evening, President Obama meets with employees and families of the U.S. Tri-Mission to Italy, the Holy See, and the UN Agencies in Rome

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What very lovely ambassadors @BarackObama and @FLOTUS have been for America this week – and every week. pic.twitter.com/U0IRWQoJle

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) March 27, 2014

The President’s Day

President Obama tours the American cemetery at Flanders Field with Belgian King Phillippe and Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, right, in Waregem, Belgium (Pete Souza)

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All times local

10:40 AM: The President participated in a wreath laying, Flanders Field Cemetery

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10:50 AM: Toured Flanders Field Cemetery

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11:0 AM: Delivered remarks

Text of remarks here

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12:35 PM: Arrived at the Council of the European Union to participate in the EU-U.S. Summit

With EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy, right, and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso

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12:45 PM: Participated in the EU-U.S. working lunch

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2:10 PM: Participated in a press conference

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4:10 PM: Met and greeted with Embassy personnel

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4:35 PM: Met with NATO Secretary General Rasmussen

Text of remarks here

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5:45 PM: Delivered remarks, Palais Des Beaux Arts (BOZAR)

President Obama sips a cup of hot tea backstage before his speech at the Palais Des Beaux Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels, Belgium, March 26 (Photo by Pete Souza)

Text of remarks here

@PeteSouza

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6:45 PM: Departed Brussels en route Rome

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VIDEO: @AmbasciataUSA has been busy preparing for the President’s visit to Rome. Check it out: https://t.co/EO12mCTRKW #ObamainItaly

— @NSCPress (@NSCPress) March 26, 2014

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8:40 PM: Arrived Rome

President Obama is greeted by Archbishop Francesco Canalini and Monsignor Jose Avelino Battencourt (L) as he arrives in Rome

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Chat Away

 President Obama arrives at Bozar concert hall before giving a speech in Brussels, March 26

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Will have a round-up of the President’s day a little later, so if you missed anything – like me – panic not!

President Obama Delivers Remarks At Palais Des Beaux-Arts (BOZAR)

Rise and Shine: Belgium and China

 

President Obama, Belgium’s King Philippe (C) and Belgium’s Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo attend a ceremony at The Flanders Field American World War I Cemetery and Memorial in Waregem, March 26

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Today (all times US Eastern):

9:10 AM: President Obama holds a press conference, Council of the European Union

11:35 AM: Meets with NATO Secretary General Rasmussen

12:45 PM: Delivers remarks, Palais Des Beaux Arts, Brussels

1:45 PM: Departs Brussels

3:40 PM: Arrives Rome

6:30: Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden Hosts a Reception in Honor of Women’s History Month, United States Naval Observatory

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The First Lady in China

First Lady Michelle Obama and her mother Marian Robinson feed apple to giant pandas during their visit at Giant Panda Research Base in Chengdu, Sichuan province, March 26

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First Lady Michelle Obama is greeted by Tibetan students as they arrive to a Tibetan restaurant for lunch in Chengdu in southwest China’s Sichuan province

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On This Day:

On This Day: President Obama looks out the Green Room window prior to the “Open for Questions” virtual town hall meeting on the economy in the East Room of the White House, March 26, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama surprises personal secretary Katie Johnson with a birthday gift in the Outer Oval Office, March 26, 2010 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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March 26, 2011: “More often than not, the President is in the office on most Saturdays to convene a national security or economic meeting. Here, on a Saturday in March, the President listens during a conference call on Libya in the Situation Room of the White House.” (Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama prays with faith leaders in the Oval Office following a meeting to discuss the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Aug. 26, 2013 (Photo by Pete Souza)

 

 President Obama signs memorabilia for March of Dimes 2013 National Ambassador Nina Centofanti, 8, at the Resolute Desk during her visit to the Oval Office, March 26, 2013. Centofanti’s parents Vince and Christine, brother Nicholas, and sister Mia, not visible, stand behind her (Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama bounces a soccer ball on his head while hosting a ceremony honoring players and coaches from the National Hockey League Stanley Cup-winning Los Angeles Kings and the Major League Soccer champions Los Angeles Galaxy in the East Room of the White House, March 26, 2013

Vogue, March 26, 2013

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MooOOOoorning again everyone – got completely caught up with worky stuff so ran out of time, so apologies for the teeny R&S. Will catch up later in the day.

9:10 AM EDT: President Obama Press Conference

9:10 AM EDT: President Obama Participates in a Press Conference at the Council of the European Union, Brussels

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MoooOOOooorning Early Birds!

Flanders Fields

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Wednesday: 5:40 AM (US Eastern): President Obama visits Flanders Field Cemetery – delivers remarks at 6:0 AM

President Obama will honor hundreds of Americans killed during World War I when he visits Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium, 100 years after the outbreak of the Great War

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“In Flanders Fields”

(Written during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae)

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

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