Business owners offer up pope T-shirts, figurines, 'popemobiles' and even beer to mark Pope Francis' first official visit to Washington, D.C. and New York City since becoming pontiff.

 

Pope Francis ends his first day in the US with a canonization mass on the east portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday September 23rd. 

 

The mass will see Junipero Serra canonized, an 18th century Franciscan missionary. It's the first ever canonization in the United States.

 

The decision to hold mass outside the east portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception -- among the largest in the world -- was made because the basilica would not hold the thousands who are expected turn out and see his holiness.

 

Inside the Basilica, the National Shrine Shops is chock full of memorabilia, ranging from bilingual t-shirts with Francis' face (a nod to a push by the Catholic church to include Latino's in the Pope's visit to the States), to Pope Francis mugs, and more.

 

Retail Director Amy Maloney says the National Shrine Shops are opting for what they say is a decidedly more elegant range of souvenirs.

 

"No, no bobble-heads, no pope plush dolls. I'm leaving that to the street vendors. The kitschiest thing we have is a popemobile and it's been selling very briskly at $100," Maloney said.

 

Andrea Pinillos, from the adjacent Trinity University paid the shops a visit as she gears up for the big day, where she'll be joining her friends as ticket holders to the mass.

 

"It means so much to me, like my faith. I'm a Catholic, devoted, and I feel like, it's just a blessing to be so close to him, and he's just going to be right here at the Basilica, it's just amazing," Pinillos said.

 

Just down the street, those who want to take a retreat from his holiness and escape the thousands of pilgrims descending on his mass can kick back at Brookland Pint, where you can grab one righteous brew with the likes of beers such as, Double Barrel Jesus, Divine Retribution, Epic Big Bad Baptist, and of course a local collaborative creation: 'No Pope 'Til Brookland'.

 

Owner John Adrade says he'll throw open his restaurant's doors at 7am for a breakfast fit for a pope, and will later serve up the holy brews before and after mass.

 

Meanwhile, north in New York, where the Pope will make his second stop after D.C., many are just as excited to be a host city during the Holy Father's first visit to the United States.

 

Felicia Burris, visiting the Big Apple from Atlanta, says she is excited for this particular pope's visit.

 

"I think it's wonderful. I think he is the best pope we've had. He's a pope for the Generation Xers. I love him. I'm not Catholic and I love him, so I think it's awesome. I think the city will turn out and things will be beautiful. I think it's a great thing the pope is coming," Burris said.

 

Local New York City resident Mallory Conder says that while she's happy Francis is visiting, commuting may be tough.

 

"It will probably be a little bit more traffic, but probably not anything worse than when President Obama has come or anything like that, so, I'm excited that he's coming. I have a friend in D.C. who said that she's not even going into work because everything is shut down there, so it'll be interesting to see what happens."

 

Pope Francis is expected attend vespers at the iconic St. Patrick's Cathedral on Thursday September 24.

 

From New York, Pope Francis will head to Philadelphia, where a public outdoor Mass will be held in the city on Sunday, Sept. 27, and is expected to draw 1.5 million people and mark the cap of the pontiff's six-day visit.

 

The U.S. Secret Service, which typically escorts visiting heads of state, will provide the pope with security throughout his visit, which will include meetings with President Barack Obama and addresses to Congress and the United Nations General Assembly.  — Reuters