WASHINGTON – Tuesday April 15^th, 2008 Pope Benedict the sixteenth arrived in Washington. It’s a momentous event and thousands of faithful are converging on the nation’s capital as Pope Benedict makes his first visit to the United States.

One of the many stops on his tour is the National Shine of the Immaculate Conception; the largest Roman Catholic Church in the United States. And although there are not enough seats inside for everyone to see the Pope, there are plenty of stores about their journey here.

Some traveled from coast to coast. “We’re from California” said one man.

Others have been in town for awhile. “Twenty five years” said Basilica volunteer Mary Jane Eldridge. She’s been volunteering here for twenty-five years. But in that quarter of a century, few days have been as busy as this.

Today she’s busy answering phones, giving directions and answering questions about the Papal visit. But all this hard work is paying off. Wednesday the Pope will arrive at the National Shrine to meet with United States Catholic Bishops. And “we will be there for that. That’s a great privilege that’s one of the big benefits that I’ve had all the years that I’ve been here” said Eldridge.

It’s clear that Mary Jane isn’t the only one here at The National Shrine that feels blessed to be here.

“We got tickets at the last minute…and we’re getting to see our holy father in the nation’s capital,” said Christina St. Hilaire. “The heart of our catholic faith in the heart of our nation,” said Christina.

It is the family’s first visit to D.C. but not their first time seeing Pope Benedict. They have traveled all the way from Nebraska’s Lincoln Diocese to see an old friend. “We met Pope Benedict when was still Cardinal Ratzinger . We found out we could attend his mass at the German college. We were able to talk to him there and tell him some of our concerns of things in this country,” said Christina.

The St.Hilaire’s lived in Rome for three years. “I got to hold his hand when we were walking in the Garden and I think we had just come out of mass” said their youngest son Daniel.

And then after following the advice of Cardinal Ratziner, they moved back to the states. But the friendship wasn’t over. “The year after we moved to Linocln we actually got a Christmas card from him.” Christina told us.

This trip though, there will not be any walks in the Garden. But the family will be at the mass in Nationals Stadium on Thursday.

And although the faces of the faithful range from old, to the young, everyone’s hoping to get a glimpse of Pope Benedict this week.

Lauren Squires can be reached at www.lauren.squires@loras.edu