Papal Visit Has Business Booming At Long Island Religious Store
MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Pope Francis admirers have steadily been flowing into a Long Island store in recent days to buy up pope memorabilia.
At the Advent Shop in Massapequa, teacher Robert Wasson was purchasing pope-related materials for his seventh-grade religion class.
PAPAL VISIT: Complete Coverage | Road Closures |Guide | Twitter | Photos | Share Your Thoughts On Facebook
Wassan also said he is going into New York City to see Francis.
"I think the best part about it for me is that his presence here has really made people focus on the Catholic faith," he told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
Store employee Linda Suppa said business has increased as people are coming in to buy items for the pope to bless during his visit to the city.
Papal Visit Has Business Booming At Long Island Religious Store
"A lot of people have come in buying books actually on the pope," she said. "They want to read more about his life, where he came from, his roots.
"We've been selling a lot of little papal flags, a lot of rosaries, a lot of little mementos," Suppa added.
"They're just saying how they love this man, that he's just so humble and gentle and genuine. He reaches beyond the barriers of just Catholicism; he's touched so many people in different faiths."
The pope is scheduled to arrive at JFK Airport at around 5 p.m. Thursday.
His visit to the Big Apple includes a prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral, an address to the United Nations General Assembly, an interfaith service at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, a visit to a school in East Harlem, a motorcade through Central Park and Mass at Madison Square Garden.
Francis leaves New York on Saturday morning when he will travel to Philadelphia.
