Dixon Family Excited To See Pope In Washington, D.C.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Dixon, Illinois, family has won an "unbelievable" opportunity to see Pope Francis when the pontiff visits the nation's capitol later this month.
Jacob Williams received five tickets to see the broadcast of the Pope's address to Congress on video screens on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
"It's definitely a lot rarer than Super Bowl tickets, so it's pretty exciting," he said.
Williams won the tickets through a lottery held by his local congressman.
"Within 24 hours they had contacted us, and said 'Your tickets are secure.' So I thought it was pretty unbelievable," he said.
Williams, his wife, his two sons, and his elderly mother will be making the trip to Washington, D.C., for the Pope's address to Congress on Sept. 24.
"This particular Pope fascinates me with his courage," he said.
His mother will get a seat close to where Pope Francis is expected to make brief remarks on the West Lawn.
"For her, she's going to be really close, and yesterday when I told her that, that was the icing on the cake for her," he said.
How is he preparing for the Pope's visit?
"I figured I would throw on a suit, and try to mind my manners," he said.
Joking aside, Williams said it's a magnificent opportunity; the chance of a lifetime, and something he and his family will never forget.
"I think he's affecting non-Christians and Christians alike. The more of that we can get, the better off we're going to be as a world," he said.