White House staff took a few of us reporters out to the otherwise shut down Pennsylvania Ave., just a few minutes before Pope Benedict XVI drove off the White House grounds for the first of his two motorcades today.

I got this shot of the popemobile as it went by, right in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Earlier, on our way out to the press area on the south lawn, prior to the pope's arrival, staff walked us behind the podium where President Bush and Benedict would give their remarks. Here's what that looked like.

And here's what the scene looked like from the press pen. You might have been better off watching on TV, although there's nothing like a 21-gun salute in person.

— Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times