Talk Bronx New York

A Sidewalk Pope in The Bronx

Pope Benedict XVI will be in the Bronx on Sunday morning when he celebrates Mass at Yankee Stadium. But a short distance away, he has been making appearances all week on the sidewalk in front of the Mount Carmel Catholic Book Shop, at 627 East 187th Street.

It is actually his cardboard likeness, placed in front of the store by Neil Fusco, a co-owner of the shop. Judged by the reactions of passers-by, it pleases many people with no tickets to any pope-related events this weekend. They speak to the pope’s likeness or genuflect or stop and pay their respects, on this block next to the many Italian restaurants and bakeries on Arthur Avenue.

“For a lot of people, it’s as close as they’re going to come to meeting the pope,” Mr. Fusco said.

“Everyone wants a piece of the pope while he’s here,” he added.

Aside from communing with the life-size cutout, one can also connect with the pope by stepping inside the shop and picking up a memento of the pope’s visit.

Mr. Fusco is selling “Property of Pope Benedict” T-shirts and “I Love Pope Benedict” bumper stickers, as well as coffee mugs and aromatic “Pope-Pourri” pillows bearing the pope’s likeness. The stuff has been going like hotcakes, he said. It is a perfect example of how the pope offers spiritual guidance but also lets his followers with their livelihoods.

“He’s really providing for us,” Mr. Fusco said.

SOURCE: NYTimes.com Read more..

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Papal Visit 2008: Bronx Store Cashes In On Papal Visit

A life-size cutout of Pope Benedict XVI is causing quite a stir on East 187th Street, just days ahead of the real pope’s visit to the city.

The owners of the Mount Carmel Catholic books and gifts store started putting the cut-out outside their store about a month ago, to generate excitement about the pope’s visit and draw customers to purchase pope memorabilia.

“We knew we couldn’t get the pope himself, so we got the second best thing, and it’s been a big hit,” said store owner Richard Janniello.

Neighborhood residents, many of whom will not get to see the pope himself, said they really enjoy the cutout.

“No difference, at least we see him,” said one local resident.

“I think it’s a good idea and it is an honor that he comes to our neighborhood,” said another.

“That’s him right here, can’t be nobody else, and I’m right next to him,” said a third.

The bookstore is selling a wide variety of pope merchandise, including baseball caps, coffee mugs, even something called pope-pourri.

The store’s owners say the items are flying off the shelves, because people want a piece of the Holy Father’s visit.

“Everyone wants to get involved in it, wants to be part of it, and wants to be part of the family, so to speak,” said co-owner Neil Fusco.

Father Terry Messer of the Franciscan Friars for the Renewal says it all comes down to spreading the word about the pope’s arrival.

“Everybody wears t-shirts that say I’ve been everywhere, but if they want to wear a t-shirt that says Pope Benedict XVI then that’s great, you know,” said Messer.

He said the more fanfare surrounding the historic visit this week the better.

SOURCE: NY1 Read more..

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