WATCH: How the White House prepared for Pope Francis's visit
WASHINGTON — The diplomatic double whammy of back-to-back visits by Pope Francis and Chinese President Xi Jinping is creating some pressure-filled days for Deesha Dyer, five months into her tenure as White House social secretary.
No wonder a scented candle is among the half-dozen "must-have" items she keeps in her small office.
"It provides a calm, peaceful atmosphere, which is important in this job," Dyer said.
Watch a video of the preparations for the pope's at the White House:
Video lifted from the White House/Released
Dyer has worked at the White House since 2009, starting as an intern and rising to deputy social secretary before Obama and his wife, Michelle, moved her into the top job in April. The Philadelphia native has overseen the planning and execution of scores of events since then, though none as important politically or on as grand a scale as the Francis and Xi visits.
Francis became just the third pope to visit the White House, one stop on his first U.S. trip. — Associated Press with Efigenio Toledo IV/Philstar.com
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