Local shop sells official pope merchandise

Many might not have the luxury of going to Ciudad Juarez to visit Pope Francis and pick up some keepsakes of the historic event, but now there’s a local shop that’s selling official pope merchandise.

It’s a store off the freeway you’ve probably passed hundreds of times. The Madonna Shop. Inside you can find religious collectibles ranging from books to nightlights to statues but it’s the pope’s merchandise that got customers buzzing.

“We talk to customers and you ask them about the pope and they just grin from ear to ear,” said owner of The Madonna Shop, Lillian Felix.

Felix tells ABC-7 that representatives from the Juarez diocese chose her store
to sell official Pope Francis merchandise.

“It’s official commemorative items that’s been approved by them and they will be selling these exact same items in Juarez,” Felix said.

Not only is the merchandise official but the sales have a purpose.

“All the proceeds we get from that money goes back to diocese to help fund the papal visit,” Felix told ABC-7.

Felix said for many buying the merchandise means more than just having something to display.

“We don’t know if any pope will come to this area again so I think even just having a rosary in their hand or a prayer card it’s going to remind them of that special day,” Felix said.

For shoppers like Eloiso and Dolores De Avila the items they bought
are meant for a higher purpose.

“We got rosaries to have them blessed and we’re going to have them in our cars but I’m sending it to my son who’s out of town,” said Dolores De Avila.

There’s also local merchandise like a shirt that showcases the Franklin Mountains and the star on the mountain.

Prices for the pope goods can range from 30 cents to about $50 and although she has seen a boost in customers, for Felix it isn’t about sales it’s about being near his holiness.

“He hasn’t even been here yet and you can just feel the energy when you have conversations with our customers. They’re excited, they’re happy that he’s coming in,” Felix told ABC-7.

Felix said she expects to receive more merchandise like coffee mugs and jewelry and you can find them on Facebook under The Madonna Shop, where they’ll update all the new goods they will receive.