LA Rep holds lottery to see Pope Francis in Washington

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11 / CNS) - Hoping to get closer to Pope Francis when he visits the United States? A Southland congressman is giving constituents a chance.

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Los Angeles, said he has been given a limited number of tickets for people to stand on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 24, when the pope will speak to a joint meeting of Congress. A series of large
television screens will be in place on the lawn for people to watch the pontiff's speech.

"Pope Francis' visit will mark an important moment not only for Catholics but for all Americans, which is why I will be holding a lottery to distribute these tickets to constituents," according to Lieu.

An online entry form is available at http://goo.gl/forms/x1oq7kxird. The deadline to enter is 10 a.m. Monday. Winners will be notified Tuesday.

Winners can request no more than four tickets.

Winners also must pay their own way to Washington, D.C., and arrange and pay for their own accommodations.

Lieu's 33rd Congressional District stretches from Rancho Palos Verdes and the South Bay to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Calabasas and Malibu.