Benedict XVI just left the field — what a splendid event this was — great music, faultless presentation. Fabulous, cool weather and sunny skies didn't hurt, either.

And in the midst of a baseball field at that. The pitcher's mound was demurely enclosed by a white fence; home plate was covered by the archdiocesan shield.

The one blot: Coffee was either not ready at the concession stands or they ran out early.

I sidled up to a concession stand, where I met one Michael Anthony White, 56, of St. Catherine Laboure parish in Wheaton, who like dozens of others, was scooping up souvenirs: rosaries, T-shirts, and the like.

"I just want to capture the moment," he said. "I can't believe I am here."

A few mysteries remain: Still little word on the identities of the 50 people who personally got to take Communion from the pope. I have been asking the archdiocesan spokeswoman this question for many days — finally, after the Mass, I got her to admit the lucky ones included not a few archdiocesan staff, such as chancellor Jane Belford and her husband Kevin, plus "some students." Well, if any of you recognized others, please send us their names since it appears the archdiocese may take awhile to supply us a full list.

And even though Benedict is not the showman John Paul II was, he had no difficulty engaging the crowds with his obvious enjoyment with being here. Who wouldn't be in a stadium with the Capitol as your backdrop?

Yours truly was up at 5 to cover this but I had two interns: Kristi Moore and Hsin-yin Lee, who were at the stadium even earlier — in fact; Hsin-yin camped out at the press center at the Westin all night to catch the 4:30 a.m. press bus to the stadium.

Here are some of the quotes they got from the worshippers:

Sister Marie de Prouille, a nun from the Servants of the Lord order in the District, who was helping out in the confession tent where 65 priests were absolving people of their sins.

"It's a real blessing for us he is here," she said, "and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to be here."

The Hooper family from Benedict, Md., arrived at 5:30 a.m. Like many, they got in by winning a parish lottery.

"This is the closest you can get to God," said the dad, Gary Hooper, 41.

"Just breathing the same air as the pope is good enough for me. I don't even have to see him or touch him," said Agnes Ngami, 50, who came with her two daughters, Margaret, 17, and Melanie, 14, from Brandywine, Md.

I wanted to experience the aura of the Holy Father," said Larry Horner, who came from Tracy's Landing, Md.

Bert and Katie Drummond, a couple from Silver Spring, got tickets at the last minute from his employer at Catholic University's theological school.

"It was meant to be and so it happened," he said. He got a seat on the field.

"I have been bragging non-stop," said Navy Maj. William Schouviller, 43, from St. Leo the Great parish in Fairfax. Only 99 parishioners got to go and he was one.

"This is very spiritual and very moving," said Francis Stevens of Petersburg, Va. "Pope Benedict is a great leader, and he's here to tell his flock to follow the teachings of Christ. He is our own messenger."

Five school girls from Academy of Holy Cross in the Washington archdiocese arrived dressed in full school uniforms with knee-length baby blue skirts and navy blue vests. Out of 150 students, they alone got to attend.

"A lot of us were just like, 'Oh My God! We're going to see the pope!" said Mary Rajk, 14.

"I was really bummed because my mom and brother had tickets, so when I found out, I was really happy," said Danielle Tafuri, 14. "I really want a blessing from the pope!"

A lot of non-locals got there too, including Marianne Doughney from Jupiter, Fla., in one of 150 people from the Diocese of Palm Beach who got tickets. She was especially happy to be at a Mass. “That's what it is all about," she said. "It's the Year of the Eucharist."

Monsignor Michael Schmied from St. Augustine Catholic Church in Richmond, Va., said of the pope, "I hope he will bring a face of the Catholic Church that is intelligent, respectful, communicative and compassionate . "We need this type of leadership."

Father William Byrne from St. Peters Church on Capitol Hill had been at several papal Masses before attending yesterday's event.

"'John Paul II was very gifted with visual images, and I think Benedict has the gift of words," he said. "You have to listen very carefully. His writings are profound and must be read in their totality."

— Julia Duin, assistant national editor/religion, The Washington Times