Selfie Sticks Banned for Pope’s Visit to D.C.

Pilgrims to Pope Francis’s D.C. visit will not be able to snap the perfect photo with a selfie stick: the oft-maligned devices have been banned from papal events in the capitol.

The Secret Service included selfie sticks in a list of prohibited items for the pope’s appearances in Washington, D.C.; the ban was also included in earlier announcements for his events in New York City and Philadelphia. The list of forbidden items includes a few obvious choices (weapons, explosives, mace) and some more benign ones (bicycles and balloons).

Pope Francis arrives in Washington on Sept. 22; he travels to New York on Sept. 24, then to Philadelphia on Sept. 26.