Washington: Pope Benedict XVI arrived at a stadium on Thursday for his first public Mass in the United States, waving to the crowd as he stood in the back of a white pope mobile.
Tens of thousands of people waved back as the German-born pope was driven through the ground. A crowd of 46,000 was expected, and the demand for tickets doubled the supply, organizers said.
Barbara and Michael Loh sat alone in the stands taking in the scene. They were among the first to arrive.
"I've been Catholic all my life and my dream has always been to see the pope,' said Barbara Loh, tearing up.
Shortly before sunrise, more than four hours before the Mass, it was standing-room only on subways. Vendors hawked Vatican flags and souvenir buttons, but there were few takers as people hurried toward the stadium.
For others, there was nothing more important than getting in, and many people without tickets stood outside the subway station with signs pleading for extra tickets.
Benedict spent the first full day of his US journey yesterday sharing a platform with President George W. Bush and laying out his analysis of the American church to its bishops.
Before Benedict's arrival, polls showed most Americans knew little or nothing about him. Those who have watched him so far have found a pontiff who speaks excellent English, appears vigorous for his 81 years, mostly prefers script to spontaneity and displays a keen sense of the critical issues facing his 65-million member American flock.
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