Papal Visit

Pope Benedict XVI Turns Attention To The Public

WASHINGTON (CBS) ― Pope Benedict XVI arrived at Washington Nationals stadium on Thursday for his first public Mass in the United States, waving to the crowd as he stood in the back of a white popemobile.

Tens of thousands of people waved back as the German-born pope was driven through the grounds. A crowd of 46,000 was expected, and the demand for tickets doubled the supply, organizers said.

Barbara and Michael Loh of Williamsburg, Va., sat alone in the stands taking in the scene. They were among the first to arrive.

"I've been Catholic all my life and ... my dream has always been to see the pope," said Barbara Loh, tearing up.

At 5:45 a.m., more than four hours before the Mass, it was standing-room only on subways. Vendors hawked Vatican flags and souvenir buttons, but there were few takers as people hurried toward the stadium.

For others, there was nothing more important than getting in, and many people without tickets stood outside the subway station with signs pleading for extras.

Patty Trail, 54, pastoral associate at a church in Virginia Beach, Va., drove overnight to bring two priests to the Mass. She didn't have a ticket but said she was happy to at least be in the vicinity of the pope.

"Just to be out here, just to be in the presence," she said. "D.C. feels different."

Crews had been hard at work since Sunday, transforming the ballpark into an open air cathedral. The outfield has been covered with plastic flooring and thousands of chairs to expand the stadium's capacity to 48,000.

"There's over 1,300 priests that are going to be here, 261 bishops, 15 cardinals, plus the papal entourage will be in attendance," said Washington Archdiocese Mark Knestaut.

For the communion, roughly 300 deacons from across the country will serve Eucharist to the faithful.

Archbishop Donald Wuerl said, "We will be able to give communion to 45 to 48,000 in less than 20 minutes."

The excitement over the pope's visit was evident Wednesday afternoon, when throngs of people lined Pennsylvania Avenue in hopes of glimpsing the popemobile. Crowds were said to be up to 20 people deep in some places.

"It was exciting and I screamed, 'Your holiness!'" one young spectator said. Added another, "it was definitely worth the trip down here."

The papal visit brings the leader of the Catholic Church to within yards of the faithful young people who look to the pope for spiritual guidance.

After his appearance at the stadium the pope will meet with educators from Catholic University of America - the only higher education institution founded by American bishops.

An inter-faith meeting will be at the tail end of the pope's schedule Thursday. About 200 leaders from the Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu communities will attend the meeting at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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