Hot Souvenirs This Week: Pope Tchotchkes

Benedict T-Shirts, Bumper Stickers And Mugs Are Popular Items As Pope Visits U.S.

(AP)  The must-have souvenirs in Washington this week aren't the American-flag tchotchkes hawked around the National Mall. The really hot items include "I love the pope" bumper stickers, "Property of Benedict XVI" T-shirts and mugs emblazoned with the pope's heavenward gaze.

As thousands of Roman Catholics began streaming into the capital ahead of Pope Benedict XVI's visit, many made their first stop at a gift shop, where they could snap pictures with a life-size cutout of Benedict before buying their mementos.

Benedict's first U.S. visit as pope includes a Mass at Nationals Park on Thursday and one at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sunday. And thousands of people who couldn't get the hard-to-come-by tickets are expected to travel to both cities anyway, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pope - or at least a souvenir.

Linda Clancy was buying T-shirts, rosaries and postcards with the pope's photograph on Monday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The 49-year-old from Tulsa, Okla., hoped Benedict would bless rosaries and other religious articles at Thursday's Mass.

"When I get home I'm going to gift all the people that didn't get to come because I feel so grateful to be here," she said.

Merchandise licensed by the archdioceses of Washington and New York will be for sale at Masses and other events and online. A portion of the proceeds will go to help pay for the pope's visit, but archdiocese officials say they are not expecting a huge sum.

The most popular items from Internet sales have been holy cards and polo shirts, which feature Benedict's personal crest from when he was an archbishop, said Mark Nelson, whose company Nelson Woodcraft produced the official merchandise for the Washington Archdiocese. Also popular is the Benedict tour T-shirt, listing all the U.S. sites he is visiting, as if it was a concert tour.

"We've tried to design everything to be religious in nature, evoking either prayers for the Holy Father or inspiration from the Holy Father," Nelson said.

He conceded that wasn't the case with the "Property of Benedict XVI" shirts, among the 20,000 T-shirts the Steubenville, Ohio-based company produced for the event.

"That's more of a generic line," he said. "It's reaching out to kids, trying to speak their language and evoke pride in our faith."

In New York, Max Merchandising produced the more than 200,000 items made for the pope's visit. The line developed with the archdiocese includes a baseball jersey, a backpack, a travel mug and a teddy bear wearing an official papal visit T-shirt, said owner Randi Grossman.

"One of the things we were very conscious of is the need to be very respectful and very reverent," Grossman said. "And we don't do bobbleheads."

Those who do want Benedict bobbleheads can find them easily enough on eBay. Washington's Metro transit agency used one in an Internet video ad last week encouraging those attending the papal Mass to take the train to the stadium. In the video, the bobblehead is seen riding a train and appears to nod in agreement as a fellow passenger addresses him in Latin.

After the archdiocese complained that the bobblehead was incorrectly dressed - it depicted the pope in a red skullcap, instead of a white one - Metro pulled the ad, though fans have reposted it on YouTube.

The Metro controversy aside, there's nothing inherently irreverent about a pope bobblehead, said the Rev. Mark Morozowich, associate dean for seminary and ministerial students at the Catholic University of America. The pope will visit the university Thursday evening to meet with Catholic educators.

"It's a cultural way of expressing affection," Morozowich said. "Who do we make bobbleheads of? Sports figures. And we hold these sports figures in esteem."

Buying pope souvenirs is a natural expression of people's enthusiasm about the visit, Morozowich said. T-shirts, bumper stickers and key chains can be good things if they are used by Catholics as "tools of evangelization" to spread the word about their faith.

"I think the pope would certainly be happy if someone decided to donate to charity instead of buying some particular tchotchke," he added, "but this is all how people choose to remember the visit."

Jennifer Hendrix, 39, of Waldorf, Md., won tickets to the Mass in a lottery at her parish and was stocking up on merchandise at the basilica this week.

"I am ecstatic. I just got told that my remission from cancer is complete, so getting tickets for this Mass just meant so much more to me," she said. "It just means everything."

Some T-shirt sizes were already sold out, but Hendrix decided on a tote bag and a handful of bumper stickers.

"I'll use this every day," she said of the bag.

[rushman71]

lovesamerica: That was a very good comment that you have made. Every single one of us lives a different lifestyle. We all hold views that differ from each other. If only we could share our views peacefully with each other, there wouldn''t be any hatred or bloodshed. I was born and raised Catholic, but don''t consider myself as Catholic any more. I attend a non-denominational church every once in a while. But it is not religion that I would put myself towards. It is faith. I have a strong faith in the Lord. Now, whatever people believe in is their choice, and theirs alone. For those who wish not to believe, I am ok with that and won''t "bible thump ''em". LOL. I know people who are questionable about God. That is their decision, not mine. As long as they don''t criticize, mock, insult, etc. in what I believe in, we could get along just fine.

[gunownerdan]

god is money

[lovesamerica]

The thing I see good with most religions,not fanatical ones,is that it teaches morals and gives the believer hope.Death is scary and any thing that makes the transition easier should be heralded,again, I am not talking fanatical.For people who do not recognize an organized religion,as myself, there are other things that keep us on the straight and narrow,allow us to volunteer,help others and show compassion for all living creatures...maybe it is a religion of sorts,but one that is held within. I think its cool the Pope is here,how wonderful for the catholics to see him in our country. Respectfor all living creatures and our planet are the basis of ALL religions. So keep in your heart,what you need from faith, and share the rest with your neighbors. remember, on this subject..NOBODY is right....

[rushman71]

Does believing in God make me insane. That is a 100% illogical question.

[rushman71]

berniepeders: Words of hatered will only make you suffer. But, I will still bless you anyway!!!

[rushman71]

berniepeders: What you are saying,"If there is a God, then He can strike me with a bolt of lightning!!!" Then just stand there and see that it doesn''t, so you would say,"You see, there is no God!!!" But you have missed the entire picture. God doesn''t do that.
You asked if I believe that evil does exist. Yes, it does, but it is not God''s doing. Satan and his followers were once good, but became jealous of God, so they rebelled against Him.
You said, "Well, if he is WILLING to prevent evil, but is not ABLE to, he is NOT omnipotent." Wrong again. God is a Righteous God. With all of the events currently taking place, all the plagues, the famines, the wars, the violence throughout this whole world that we live in, of course that makes people wonder or say that there is no God. But He says in the bible that all of these events MUST happen before He returns.

[berniepeders]

I feel so sorry for people who are as brain-washed as you, rushman.

Pax vobiscum

[berniepeders]

berniepeders: I will not throw insults at you either. I will bless you just the same. Hopefully, one day, you will truly see that God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent.

Posted by rushman71 at 09:52 AM : Apr 17, 2008

rushman71-
Do you believe that your "god" is omnipotent and benevolent?
Do you agree that evil does exist?
Well, if he is WILLING to prevent evil, but is not ABLE to, he is NOT omnipotent.
If he is ABLE to prevent evil, but is not WILLING to, then he is malevolent.
If he is able to and willing to prevent evil, then how can it exist?
If he is unable AND unwilling to prevent evil, then why call him a god?

[rushman71]

Keithle1 and berniepeders: I want the both of you to sing this song with me.

Lord you are good and your mercy endureth forever.
Lord you are good and your mercy endureth forever.
People of every nation and tongue,
From generation to generation!!!
We worship You!!! Halleluiah, Halleluiah!!!
We worship You, for who You are!!!
We worship You!!! Halleluiah, Halleluiah!!!
We worship You, for who You are!!!
You are good!!!
Yes you are, yes you are, yes you are!!!
So good, so good!!!
Yes you are, yes you are, yes you are!!!
You are good, all the time, all the time, you are good!!!
You are good, all the time, all the time, you are good!!!

[rushman71]

berniepeders: I will not throw insults at you either. I will bless you just the same. Hopefully, one day, you will truly see that God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent.

[berniepeders]

To all of the "believers" out there, a blessing:
May you all wake up some day and realize there is no god. What''s that smell, is that coffee?
Have a nice day.

[berniepeders]

rushman71-
Do you believe that your "god" is omnipotent and benevolent?
Do you agree that evil does exist?
Well, if he is WILLING to prevent evil, but is not ABLE to, he is NOT omnipotent.
If he is ABLE to prevent evil, but is not WILLING to, then he is malevolent.
If he is able to and willing to prevent evil, then how can it exist?
If he is unable AND unwilling to prevent evil, then why call him a god?

[berniepeders]

Keithle1-

I agree completely. The catholic church is a corrupt den of thieves. Look at his lifestyle. Palaces & villas, private jets & limos, gold & jewelry everywhere. What is he, a pimp or a pope? I thought holy men were supposed to live very austere lives. When you''ve got as much money as the catholic church though, that doesn''t apply to you anymore. He''s a pitiful sham.

[rushman71]

Keithle1: Question, why do you hate the Pope. What is your point in ridiculing someone who has a strong faith in God. Oh yeah, that''s right. You don''t believe in God. Hmmmm. Well, I could throw a bunch of insults right at you, but that would not be right for me to do. So, instead, I will bless you. May the Lord, the Giver of Life, bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen......

[keithle1]

S c r e w the Pope. What''s so great about him? What has he done?