If retired Bishop Vicky Gene Robinson (IX New Hampshire) wanted to have an up close and personal encounter with the Pope and get a snapshot for bragging rights, his missed his opportunity. Francis schmoozed with the crowd at 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, not at the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The White House event was highly choreographed and tightly organized. Bishop Robinson was just one face in a sea of faces -- more than 14,000 other faces. Even in his brightly colored bishop's collar, he was indistinguishable from all the other invited guests and participants. However, now he has bragging rights to say he attended Pope Francis' White House welcoming ceremony at the behest of the President of the United States.

In all likelihood, Pope Francis was unaware of Bishop Robinson's presence as well as the media storm it created and the political embarrassment it brought to the President.

Moreover, it was not Bishop Robinson, but Barack Obama who was ultimately stretching the point. In his welcoming address, the President told the Pope how important the Catholic Church is to American life and how much religious freedom Christianity enjoys in America.

Obama, speaking against a back drop of the red, white, and blue Stars and Stripes and yellow and white papal flags billowing gently in the breeze, told his papal guest that "all Americans, from every background and of every faith, value the role that the Catholic Church plays in strengthening America.

"From my time working in impoverished neighborhoods with the Catholic Church in Chicago to my travels as president, I've seen firsthand how, every day, Catholic communities, priests, nuns and laity feed the hungry, heal the sick, shelter the homeless, educate our children and fortify the faith that sustains so many," the President iterated. "What is true in America is true around the world ... Catholic organizations serve the poor, minister to prisoners, build schools and homes, and operate orphanages and hospitals. And just as the Church has stood with those struggling to break the chains of poverty, it has given voice and hope to those seeking to break the chains of violence and oppression."

The President continued, "You remind us that people are only truly free when they can practice their faith freely. Here in the United States, we cherish religious liberty."

At that point, either the President was truly mistaken as he spoke or was telling the Pope a boldface lie.

"So we stand with you in defense of religious freedom and interfaith dialogue, knowing that people everywhere must be able to live out their faith free from fear and intimidation," he said.

Nothing was mentioned about the religious intimidation and loss of religious freedom currently happening in the United States where a Bible-believing Christian clerk of court in Kentucky was jailed for attempting to do her job without compromising her faith, or the baker in Colorado who was boycotted, the photographer in New Mexico who was fined, the pastors in Texas who had their sermons subpoenaed and scrutinized, or the florist in Washington state who was sued. American Christians have been vilified for standing behind their Biblical principles. There is also the wedding reception business in Vermont and a pizza shop in Indiana that were forced to close down because their owners have deeply-held religious convictions which conflict with the demanding gay pride crowd over "marriage equality."

"Your Holiness, in your words and deeds, you set a profound moral example," Obama said to Pope Francis "And in these gentle but firm reminders of our obligations to God and to one another, you are shaking us out of our complacency."

As the President spoke the Pope was not all smiles. His quick infectious smile was missing.

"Mr. President, together with their fellow citizens, American Catholics are committed to building a society which is truly tolerant and inclusive, to safeguarding the rights of individuals and communities, and to rejecting every form of unjust discrimination," the Pope replied. "With countless other people of good will, they are likewise concerned that efforts to build a just and wisely ordered society respect their deepest concerns and their right to religious liberty. That freedom remains one of America's most precious possessions. And, as my brothers, the United States Bishops, have reminded us, all are called to be vigilant, precisely as good citizens, to preserve and defend that freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it."

St. Augustine's Gospel Choir serenaded following the twin addresses the Pope. The choir came from St. Augustine's Catholic Church a Washington, DC Catholic church whose roots go back to antebellum America. The historic black congregation was started in 1858 by emancipated blacks, even before President Abraham Lincoln emancipated the slaves in 1863.

The choir was decked out in white tunics draped with marching red and black edged teal scapulars. The melody they sang a cappella ended with Total Praise, which was made popular in 2013 by the Gospel Singer Incognito on Britain's Got Talent.

Following the close of the ceremony, the President led the Pope into the White House and his oval office for a private confab, before Francis continued on his American journey.

Mary Ann Mueller is a journalist living in Texas. She is a regular contributor to VirtueOnline