The Archdiocese of Washington may not have been amused by WMATA’s bobblehead Pope video, but they certainly still want area faithful to use public transit to catch a view of the pontiff when he travels around the city via popemobile later this month. To help people plan, they’ve released the official popemobile routes for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Washington on April 16 and 17.

On April 16, which is the Holy Father’s 81st birthday, he will leave a meeting with President Bush at the White House in the popemobile at noon and travel west on Pennsylvania Ave. past Washington Circle, and then north on Rock Creek Parkway before exiting at Massachusetts Ave., where he’ll arrive at the Vatican embassy near Observatory Circle. Later that day at 5:15 p.m., he’ll also travel by popemobile from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops headquarters at 3211 Fourth St. NE along Fourth St. to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The public is invited to line both routes.

The final popemobile ride will take place after the papal mass at Nationals Park on April 17, but viewing along this route is by ticket only. At around 6:15 p.m. that evening, he will travel from the campus of Catholic University through the south side of campus, north along the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, then north on Harewood Road to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.