Here comes the Pope
April 18, in New York
April 19, in New York
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When Pope Benedict XVI visits Washington and New York next week, he likely will face throngs of adoring faithful and a sea of souvenirs.
There’s the pope’s cologne, pope on a rope soap, T-shirts of course, flags, coffee mugs, bumper stickers and even a bobble head Pope Benedict, just to name a few examples.
Locally, Laura Manderfield Kranske, owner of St. Mary’s Bible and Book Center, shakes her head at some of the commercialism.
What you find mostly here, she said, “are people of prayer.” Unlike the secular retail market, the Catholic market functions differently, she said.
“We may have increasing sales for his books, but mostly you will find more people praying for his intentions. The Catholic market will not be bringing in loads of T-shirts,” she predicted.
People such as Gonzales resident Shannon Duplessis weren’t so much interested in the souvenirs, but in actually being in his presence.
She’s among the 50 from the Diocese of Baton Rouge who got a ticket to see Pope Benedict XVI when he leads Mass on Thursday at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
She also received a special gift to take to the Mass from her mother-in-law, Sue Duplessis.
When Vatican Library Collection representative Kim Harris was at the Dillard’s Mall at Cortana store March 29 to craft custom Swarovski crystal rosaries, Sue Duplessis bought one for her daughter-in-law to take with her to Washington.
The rosary came with a commemorative medallion inscribed with the dates of the pope’s visit. There were also pins, key rings, and other items with the pope’s likeness that had sold well, Harris said.
There are times when items of faith are really strong, one of them being the visit of the pope, she said.
It was just the right time for Shannon Duplessis.
Duplessis, who works for the Department of Civil Service, will be in Washington for business the same time as the pope.
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