WASHINGTON, D.C. — In Washington, D.C., signs of Pope fever are on the rise. 

At the gift shop of Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the nation’s largest church, Pope merchandise was flying off the shelves Sunday.

Among the eager shoppers was Vivian Stubbers, who traveled all the way from Seattle to see the Pope in person.

“I’m hoping that the Pope will do a blessing and so we can get all our items blessed and give them away as gifts,” said Stubbers.

Meanwhile, at the historic St. Matthew’s Cathedral, where JFK’s funeral was held, and where Pope John Paul II held mass in 1979, churchgoers said they were eager to see Pope Benedict, making his first trip to the U.S. as Pontiff.
“We haven’t had a Pope here since John Paul II 30 years ago, and it’s just wonderful because he is the representative of Peter. He is the vicar of Christ and for us who are Catholic, that is something you just can’t imagine,” said Monsignor W. Ronald Jameson.

“Pope Benedict’s just an incredible, incredible person and an incredible theologian and so I can’t wait to hear him in person, and learn his message for America,” said one church-goer.

“But not everyone is so enthused about receiving Pope Benedict, seen by some Catholics as too conservative and too dogmatic for the modern Church.

“He doesn’t communicate with people and he seems to not have the vision for accepting how people practice their Catholicism,” said another church-goer.

Others are hopeful the Pope will tackle some of the Church’s most controversial and divisive issues.

Ii think he still has to address the clergy abuse situation. But he also has, I believe that he has to address sex outside the confines of marriage, divorce, gay rights,” said another church-goer.

No matter what their religious persuasion, it seems everyone here in D.C. is aware of the Pope’s visit, if only for its potential impact.