Fr. J. Augustine Di Noia, OP, and Pope Benedict XVI (photo courtesy of Dominican House of Studies) Some happy news from the part of Washington that is so Catholic it used to be called Little Rome. With the exception of papal visits to Washington, the concerns of the American Federal City and the Eternal City do not overlap all that often, but one long-time Washingtonian is about to assume the reigns of a powerful…

We’re highlighting odd or interesting pieces of pop culture we find popping up around Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to D.C. and New York this week. Still haven’t had enough of Pope Benedict XVI’s trip to the United States? Check out some of these intriguing pope-themed items available for sale on the internet. Pope Benedict XVI Nested Dolls, available for $30 from 1-800-Porcelain.com. We’re not exactly up on our other big-time Catholic figures. Do you know…

Just in case you missed yesterday’s best bit of video on the internet, check out President Bush offering his assessment of Pope Benedict XVI’s speech outside the White House (via the Hill’s Blog Briefing Room)….

We’re highlighting odd or interesting pieces of pop culture we find popping up around Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to D.C. and New York this week. Pope Benedict XVI’s first U.S. popemobile ride today was littered with entrepreneurs trying to cash in on those who wanted to take home a souvenir of their papal experience. If you hadn’t already snagged your “Property of Pope Benedict XVI” T-shirts from Catholic to the Max, the official supplier of…

There was a parade this morning at Franklin Square to celebrate Emancipation Day — not that anyone much noticed, what with Pope Benedict XVI’s visit taking up all the attention. But indeed today is an important District-wide holiday, as it was on this day in 1862 that President Abraham Lincoln freed over 3,000 slaves in the District with the declaration of the Compensated Emancipation Act, which came eight months before slaves were freed throughout the…

Pope Benedict XVI took to his popemobile after meeting with President Bush at the White House this morning. The pontiff, who is celebrating his 81st birthday today, rode west beginning around noon on Pennsylvania Ave. through Washington Circle before heading north on Rock Creek Parkway before exiting at Massachusetts Ave. to arrive at the Vatican embassy. A large, enthusiastic crowd of about 10,000 gathered to cheer on the Pope as he rode by, rather swiftly…

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush greet Pope Benedict XVI as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Pope Benedict XVI arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at about 4:11 p.m. for his first papal visit to the United States. President Bush greeted the pontiff on a red carpet on the tarmac in front of thousands of people who gathered to catch a glimpse of the Catholic…

The first in what will hopefully be a series of posts highlighting odd or interesting pieces of pop culture we find popping up around Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to D.C. and New York this week. Did you love Shepard Fairey’s Obama posters? Artist Michael Ian Weinfeld has created this limited edition copycat “POPE” print of Benedict XVI in honor of the pontiff’s visit to the United States this week. It’s available for purchase for $99….

Via WTOP, the Archdiocese of Washington is trying to get the word out to would-be scalpers of tickets to the papal mass on April 17 that they are breaking the law. Georgina Stark, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Washington, tells WTOP, “You cannot sell a sacrament. This is a mass, so it is a sacrament. The tickets are not for sale.” Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Washington, says the archdiocese has sent out…

Metro says they will be ready for the 25,000 plus additional riders they expect when during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Washington this week. In addition to the usual “additional station managers on hand”, Metro will run trains at rush hour levels on Wednesday and Thursday between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. The renovated Navy Yard exit nearest to Nationals Park will also be converted to exit only before the papal mass on Thursday, and…