Philly Relishes ‘Beautiful Experience' of Hosting Pope, World Meeting of Families

Pope Francis' tour of the U.S. has already been filled with special moments that will become indelible memories for his fans and faithful. Residents of and visitors to Philadelphia, where the pope landed Saturday morning for the final leg of the tour, are ready this weekend to make their own memories. 

Philadelphia is playing host to the World Meeting of Families, the first time the week-long conference has been held in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of Catholics traveled into this city hoping not only to strengthen the bonds of their faith but catch a glimpse of His Holiness.

Banners with photos and quotes of Francis lined Market Street to welcome the pope: "Have the Courage to Be Truly Happy," one read; "We All Have the Duty to Do Good," read another.

With the biggest moments of Francis' trip yet to come – including a speech at a lectern used by President Abraham Lincoln and a visit to a local prison – some in Philadelphia were mulling what he'd already said and done over his first four days in the U.S.

"I loved seeing him with the kids in Harlem," said Sister Mary Karen, "because we serve women who are vulnerable and pregnant. So a lot of those children, they're part of us."

Francis visited the East Harlem school in New York on Friday, where he met with third- and fourth-grade students and immigrants being assisted by Catholic Charities.

Sister Mary Karen and 19 of her fellow Sisters of Life have been in Philadelphia all week, and 50 more were coming down for the weekend. 

"We're really excited," she said in downtown Philadelphia Saturday morning. "It's kind of like a big family reunion."

Francis' remarks from Friday night Mass at Madison Square Garden were still on Kim Vinch's mind as she waited for the pontiff in Philadelphia. The Lawrenceville, N.J. resident was deeply affected when she watched him speak. 

"Even when he was just in his thoughtful prayer after Communion it's hard not to get emotional. He seems to touch so many people so deeply," said Vinch, a special education teacher.

Sister Mary Karen's life has already changed after coming into contact with a pope. She became a sister after seeing Pope John Paul II in Rome, when she was a student at the University of Virginia and backpacking around Europe. She immediately called her mother to tell her that her life had changed.

Her mother told her, "Whenever you come close to such holiness something in us has to change," Sister Karen said near St. John the Evangelist Church, a historic church in downtown Philly.

A missionary priest in from Belize, Father Scott, said he was interviewing attendees of the World Meetings of Families and others, sending their stories back to people in Belize in short video clips.

"It's a beautiful experience not only to see the Holy Father but to experience the church," he said. "When you experience it from the inside like this you know that the church is not just an institution."

The city is expecting up to 2 million people to come for the World Meeting of Families, and much of downtown was cordoned off to travel to accommodate the pilgrims.

Arturo Salgado traveled from St. Cloud, Minnesota, to see Pope Francis on the East Coast. His group's first stop was Washington, D.C., and they were in Philadelphia Saturday for his arrival.

"We were 10 to 12 feet away when we saw him in D.C.," Salgado said excitedly. He said that despite tight security in Philly and checkpoints monitored by TSA agents, he thought security in D.C. was tighter.

On the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, crowds lining the road to see Francis' afternoon speech cheered as they watched as a Jumbotron showed Pope Francis exit his car to greet people before celebrating Mass.

Gwen Prelow, a retired woman who traveled to Philadelphia from her home in New Jersey, remained hopeful that he might pass by the parkway after Mass.

"I'll be so happy just to see his face," Prelow said. "He's such a pleasant man."

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