With Pope Francis scheduled to visit New York on Friday and then hold events in Philadelphia on weekend, New Jersey officials are advising everyone to make a plan and be prepared.

Pope Francis
FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015 file photo, Pope Francis tries on a pair of spectacles in an eyeglass store in via del Babuino, in central Rome. (Daniel Soehne via AP, File)
loading...

Many Central Jersey shoppers aren’t sure what that means, and they’re not anticipating any real impact on their lives.

“I don’t think personally it will affect me,” said one woman in Ewing Township.

Bob from Trenton said “it doesn’t mean anything to me, actually I think it’s an inconvenience for most people."

He also said he believes it could have a negative impact for some.

"They’re shutting down all the roads. I mean the president doesn’t even get as much fanfare as far as the pope goes,” he said.

Betty from Ewing said she's not planning to head to Philly for the pope's visit and doesn't anticipate many problems for people in the Ewing area.

“On this immediate area I don’t think it will mean anything. I just plan to watch it on TV," she said.

Another shopper said in honor of the pope’s visit “maybe I will make some Italian food, I don’t know. But I don’t expect an impact in this immediate area.”

A man standing nearby also didn't think the immediate area will be impacted when the pope arrives this weekend.

"For me no. Traffic would be my biggest concern and I don’t think it would have anything to do with me in this area,” he said.

Georgia from Hopewell believed she'll have a better experience by watching the pontiff on television.

“I can get a much better idea what he’s saying, what he’s doing, what he looks like on television," she said. "I don’t need to add to the confusion.”

One shopper chimed in saying, “I think the pope is a nice guy, nothing beyond that, but he seems to be right fella, so if I stay local there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Another shopper said she thought all the warnings were crazy.

“I just don’t see it,” she said. “I think it’s a little ridiculous, but I have no intention of going anywhere near Philadelphia - I’m not interested in seeing the pope, so for me, no impact whatsoever.”

 

More From Beach Radio