Contact: Ashley Walker, The Maximus Group, 678-990-9032, awalker@maximusmg.com, www.maximusnewspub.com

ATLANTA, Feb. 21 /Standard Newswire/ -- On April 15, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI will begin a historic six-day visit to the United States that will take him to Washington, D.C., and New York City. His itinerary sets the stage for critical dialogue on issues important to Americans, including an address to the General Assembly of the United Nations, a meeting with President George W. Bush, a pilgrimage to Ground Zero, and Masses celebrated at Nationals Park in Washington and Yankee Stadium in New York (where Pope Paul VI said Mass on the first papal visit to the United States in 1966).

It is dubious if the Pope will grant any interviews during this visit. As news outlets across the country prepare for this momentous event, it is critical that one has access to expert commentators who can speak authoritatively on a wide spectrum of topics: the philosophy and papacy of Benedict XVI, the teachings of the Catholic faith, the renewal of the priesthood in light of the American scandals, the Vatican under this pope, the Catholic liturgy, the Pope's Bavarian roots and its influence on his pontificate, and the similarities as well as the differences between the papacies of the late John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The Maximus Group has assembled a stunning line-up of spokespersons which include a wide variety of interesting perspectives. Sharing ideas and anecdotes from his childhood in Bavaria to his academic and spiritual philosophies and everything in between, commentators include well-known priests, members of religious orders, influential leaders and authors, papal bloggers, entertainers and sports figures and youth leaders.

The Maximus Group, a communications and marketing agency, first offered this unprecedented service to the media in 2005 at the time of the passing of Pope John Paul II, during the days of the interregnum and the papal conclave, and concluding with the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and his installation as Pope Benedict XVI. At that time 95 percent of the media outlets Maximus contacted worked with at least one expert commentator for regular appearances on their news programs and commentary in their publications, making Maximus the "one-stop shop" for media during this period. In fact, time and again media outlets return to Maximus for this service and have commented that when faced with a need for commentary from a Catholic perspective, "all roads lead to Maximus."

Maximus' mission includes providing the news media with reliable, informed, unbiased sources who can participate in intelligent discussions on topics that include a relevant and sometimes entertaining perspective from the Catholic space.

To book any of The Maximus Group's commentators or get a full list of available spokespeople, please contact Ashley Walker at The Maximus Group, 678-990-9032, by email at awalker@maximusmg.com or through the newsroom, www.maximusnewspub.com.