Forty AU students who contacted the Rev. David John Paul Mott, AU's Catholic chaplain, will attend Pope Benedict XVI's April 17 Mass at Nationals Park.
Benedict will also address Catholic educators and the Catholic University of America the same day. Both events are "invitation only," and people will need to have papal tickets that dioceses distributed among local parishes upon request, according to Zenit, a nonprofit news agency that reports on the Catholic Church.
The students who could not get one of the 40 tickets to the Nationals Park Mass will be able to see Benedict as he departs Catholic University, according to Mott. However, this is also a ticketed event, and interested students must request tickets as soon as possible from Mott.
"[The Pope], the pastor of the universal church, is coming to speak to his flock and to show his care and his concern for his people," he said.
The Catholic Student Association will table this week to raise awareness about Benedict and his life, according to Kimberly C. Rogers, AU's associate Catholic chaplain.
Catholic University has established a special Web site and will cancel classes April 16 and 17 in recognition of Benedict's visit, Zenit's Web site reported.
President Bush and first lady Laura Bush will welcome Benedict when he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs, Md., on April 15. Benedict will also attend an official White House reception the next day in celebration of his 81st birthday.
He will deliver his first papal address to a conference of U.S. bishops after the reception. This will be Benedict's first visit to the U.S. as pope since the papal conclave elected him on April 19, 2005.
Benedict will also travel to New York City from April 18 to 20, making special visits to the United Nations and the site of the World Trade Center. He will also hold ecumenical and youth meetings to address a broad range of followers. He will celebrate Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral April 19, Zenit reported.
Katie Gerry, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences who will attend the Nationals Park Mass, said she is "very excited about the Pope's visit to New York and D.C.," a trip she feels will "help American Catholics realize how important their faith is"