One D.C. resident is hoping Pope Francis will take some time out of his busy schedule to bless one of the District's most troubled services -- the Metro system.
Noah Rosenheck started the Change.org petition Monday night. He says a papal blessing may be what the Metro needs to "actually" work.
Early Tuesday, the petition had a goal of 500 signatures; by late afternoon, nearly 1,300 people had signed it. A new goal is set at 1,500.
"All of D.C. would be grateful if you could find the time to bless it during your upcoming stay," Rosenheck wrote. "At this point, I'm willing to try anything."
The petition was created hours after a fire in a Metro power facility forced officials to close a station during the Monday morning commute. The closure delayed riders on three of the system's six rail lines.
Many who have signed the petition shared their own Metro "testimonies."
"I'm signing because trying to catch a train out of D.C. in non-peak hours usually requires a miracle," Charles Kirchner of Sterling wrote.
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"I aged faster when I take Metro to work in the morning," adds Roberto Rosales of Arlington.
Pope Francis arrived in the D.C. area Tuesday afternoon to begin his six-day visit to the United States.
