UMM grad keeps tabs on Pope Benedict's U.S. visit

If you can't be there in person, you will be able to track Pope Benedict's U.S. visit this week thanks to the work of a former Morris resident.

Tim Drake, a University of Minnesota, Morris graduate and former Sun Tribune staffer, is providing a "play by play" account of the Pope's visit on the Web site www.pope2008.com.

Drake's accounts began Tuesday with the Pope's arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, and will continue through the Pope's final public appearance at an April 20 Mass at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Drake, a White Bear Lake native, is a senior writer with the National Catholic Register. He currently works out of St. Cloud.

According to Drake's Web site, he has published more than 600 articles in publications such as the National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor, Faith and Family Magazine, Catholic World Report, the Web site CatholicExchange.com, Columbia Magazine, Gilbert! Magazine, This Rock Magazine, and many others.

He also has appeared as a guest on both television and radio programs nationwide.

Drake has published three books and has contributed to several others. He resides in Saint Joseph, Minn.