RALEIGH, N.C.--It could be lottery of a lifetime. And we’re not talking powerball. One hundred people should get word this week they’ll be going to the Pope’s mass at the new National’s ballpark in Washington, D.C. next month.

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Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the United States April 15. He meets with President Bush as well as U.S. Bishops and educators, and will say mass at the stadium. Then he flies to New York to address the United Nations, visit ground zero and hold a mass at Yankee Stadium.

 

About 45,000 people are expected to attend the Washington mass. While most of the tickets were reserved for Catholic churches in Washington, diocese around the country were offered tickets. 

 

The Diocese of Raleigh was given 100 tickets for Washington and 50 for New York. Hundreds of people requested tickets, so a lottery was held to distribute them.

     

“We notified people to go to our website to submit an application,” said Frank Morock, the spokesperson for the Diocese of Raleigh. “But those who applied were limited to two, so basically 100 people are going to the Washington mass.”

    

With so many people wanting to attend, organizers of the visit added several motorcades by Pope mobile around the district to give people a chance to see the Pope.

     

“We expect him to be welcomed by the entire community,” said the Rev. Donald Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington.

       

Raleigh Bishop Michael Burbidge will meet with the Pope when he holds a prayer service with Bishops from around the country.  The superintendent of the Diocese’s Catholic schools, Dr. Michael Fedewa, will also meet with the Pope during a meeting of Catholic educators.