Mary Hobbs cried when she learned that she and her husband, Greg, had won two tickets to see Pope Benedict XVI celebrate Mass in Washington, D.C., today.

Finally, Hobbs rejoiced, she would get a glimpse of a man she loves and admires.

To see the pope in person is a once-in-a-lifetime event for many Roman Catholics. The pope, from the word "papa" or father, is considered the successor to Peter, Jesus' chief apostle. Standing next to him is as close as many Catholics get to experiencing the holiness of Jesus.

"It's a little bit like heaven on Earth," said Hobbs, 50, of Raleigh.

Hobbs, along with 150 other Catholics from the Diocese of Raleigh, will see Pope Benedict at one of two open air Masses he will celebrate during his five-day stay, which began Tuesday.

The Hobbses planned to arrive at Nationals Stadium by 6:30 this morning to go to confession before the Mass. In addition, Hobbs will be taking a few items to be blessed by the pope -- rosaries, necklaces and prayer cards her friends gave her -- an age-old tradition in which the pontiff bestows holiness on an object.

Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, may have had more charisma, but Pope Benedict is beloved by many Catholics for other traits, such as his scholarship and erudition.

The pope is considered a channel of holiness, said Paul Griffiths, a professor of Catholic theology at Duke University Divinity School.

"It fills you with devotion and a sense that you're in the presence of something very holy," Griffiths said.

About 800 people e-mailed the diocese for a chance to win tickets to see the pope. Only 150 tickets were made available to the diocese, said Frank Morock, a spokesperson for the diocese.

When Mike Oliver of Cary found out he had won a ticket, his first response was to spread the news.

"I e-mailed and phoned every relative I knew," said Oliver, 55, a financial consultant. "I wanted to share it with everybody."