papal visit philadelphia

Papal Visits

By William Madges

Popes use their visits to encourage faith, emphasize their priorities, and fulfill their role as pastors. The places visited use these trips to highlight their successes, history, and culture on an international stage. Prior to the visit of Pope Francis (b. 1936) to Philadelphia on September 26 and 27, 2015, only one other pope had made an official visit to the city. Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) came on October 3 and 4, 1979, as part of his first trip to the United States as pope. As Cardinal Wojtyła, he had visited Philadelphia in August 1976, representing Pope Paul VI at the International Eucharistic Congress during the celebration of the nation’s bicentennial.

John Paul II enjoyed a close relationship with John Cardinal Krol (1910-96), archbishop of Philadelphia (1961-88), a fellow Pole with whom he shared similar views concerning theology and church discipline. The large Catholic population of the archdiocese (more than 1.3 million), the historical significance of the city, and the pope’s friendship with Cardinal Krol were all factors in Philadelphia’s selection for a visit.

Before Philadelphia, John Paul II visited the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, where he enunciated themes repeated in Philadelphia: the dignity of the human person, fundamental human rights, and the primacy of spiritual and moral values over material and technological progress. In 1979, Philadelphia was like many other urban centers, experiencing declining influence relative to the suburbs. During the 1972-80 tenure of Mayor Frank Rizzo (1920-91), a time of white flight to the suburbs and increases in crime rates, taxes, and poverty, tensions ran high between white residents and African Americans. In this context, in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul , the pope prayed that everyone in the region would “succeed in making your inner city and suburbs places where people are no strangers to each other, where every man, woman and child feels respected; where nobody feels abandoned, rejected or alone.” In his homily at the Mass in Logan Circle that followed, John Paul urged the estimated 400,000 participants to preserve the human and Christian values—especially liberty and justice—of the city’s and the nation’s heritage. Before leaving, the pope met with seminarians and priests, Hispanic Catholics, and Ukrainian Catholics.

World Meeting of Families

Philadelphia’s second opportunity for a papal visit emerged in connection with the city’s hosting of the 2015 World Meeting of Families, a triennial event established by John Paul II to encourage discussion of the challenges and contributions of family life. The two-day papal visit was planned to encompass the meeting’s concluding events, a family festival (September 26) and a Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (September 27). Organizers projected that the Mass featuring the pope would draw between one and two million people.

In addition to appealing to the local Catholic community, the prospect of a second papal visit also drew support from civic and business leaders eager to encourage business opportunities and tourism by presenting Philadelphia as a city of global stature. A delegation including Robert J. Ciaruffoli (b. 1951), a top executive at accounting firm Baker Tilly, and Daniel Hilferty (b. 1957), Independence Blue Cross CEO, joined Mayor Michael Nutter (b. 1957), Governor Tom Corbett (b. 1949), and Archbishop Charles Chaput (b. 1944) in flying to Rome in March 2014 to encourage the pope to come to Philadelphia. The religiously diverse Executive Leadership Cabinet of the World Meeting of Families also reflected broad support.

The pope’s vigorous engagement with contemporary issues added to public interest in the visit, as evinced by newspaper articles, op-eds, and letters on the subject. Since his election in March 2013, the pope called for serving the urgent needs of migrants and refugees, protecting the environment, and making economic systems more just. He also sought to persuade the Church to be more concerned with compassionate service to all, especially the marginalized, rather than with a rigid adherence to doctrinal orthodoxy.  His message resonated not only with Catholics, but also with many others. At the same time, the pope’s insistence that humans had a moral obligation to become good stewards of the earth, instead of degrading the environment and inflicting suffering on the poor across the globe, led some conservatives to argue that the pope should steer clear of forays into “scientific” matters.

The Pope’s Itinerary

Like John Paul II before him, Francis’ arrival in Philadelphia followed an address at the United Nations in New York.  Echoing themes from that address, in Philadelphia Francis—using the same lectern that Abraham Lincoln used to deliver the Gettysburg Address—spoke about religious freedom and immigration at Independence Hall on September 26. He also met with selected prisoners and their families at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility before celebrating a concluding Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 27.

While the two papal visits have many similarities, fund-raising for the 2015 visit of Pope Francis differed from its 1979 precedent. In 1979, after Mayor Frank Rizzo announced that the city would cover the $205,569 expense of the platform and decorations for the public Mass, the ACLU filed and won a lawsuit against Philadelphia for violating the First Amendment.  In 2015, no public funds were to be used to cover the estimated $45 million cost of infrastructure, security, and cleanup for the World Meeting of Families and the papal visit. A development committee chaired by Eustace Mita , CEO of Achristavest, a waterfront development company, led the fund-raising. In addition to appealing to local businesses, foundations, and individual philanthropists for most of the needed funds, the committee created opportunities for supporters to purchase merchandise online, to donate $10 to light a candle for one’s intentions at the Cathedral Basilica, and to designate the World Meeting of Families as a preferred charity to receive a percentage of purchases made on Amazon.com.

Security measures in 2015 were also far more robust than in 1979, which preceded the era of the 9/11 attacks and the rise of al Qaeda and ISIS.  The first papal visit had no secure vehicle perimeter to block traffic, nor was there screening of visitors with magnetometers or high fences severely restricting access to the principal papal venues. The 2015 visit, designated a National Special Security Event by the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security ,  led the city to implement unprecedented travel restrictions, criticized by some as excessive. These measures included closing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge , the Vine Street Expressway, and large stretches of the Schuylkill Expressway to private vehicles and preventing incoming traffic into the three-square-mile papal security perimeter for the entire weekend.

About one month before the pope’s visit, city officials and World Meeting of Families supporters mounted a campaign to undo  negative publicity brought by uncertainties over security and transportation issues, including distribution of “OpeninPHL” kits to downtown businesses and assurances that the city would take the event in stride.

Despite the inconvenience caused by the travel restrictions and disruption created by the huge influx of visitors, Philadelphia expected to net more than $400 million in economic benefit from the 2015 papal visit. Hotels and restaurants expected to reap the greatest profit, but local merchants—especially the official retail vendor, Aramark— also stood to benefit from the selling of papal paraphernalia, including the papal bobblehead doll with cheesesteak in hand, T-shirts, coffee mugs, and religious articles. In the final months prior to the pope’s arrival, local media intensified their coverage of the preparations for the papal visit, providing daily updates as their papal clocks counted down to Francis’s visit, expected to be the largest event thus far in Philadelphia history.

William Madges , Ph.D., is a professor of theology in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Saint Joseph’s University.  His most recent publication is a translation of Walter Kasper’s Pope Francis’ Revolution of Tenderness and Love (New York: Paulist Press, 2015).

Copyright 2015, Rutgers University

Philadelphia Civic Center Clergy-Only Mass

PhillyHistory.org

This sign at the old Civic Center in 1979 heralded Pope John Paul II's visit to Philadelphia, during which he held two Masses, one in Logan Circle for the public and the other at the Philadelphia Civic Center for 10,000 priests and 3,000 nuns.

During Pope Francis's 2015 visit to Philadelphia, two Masses were scheduled, the first at 10:30 a.m. September 26 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul for local religious and those with personal invitations.

The second, open to the public, occurred on September 27, when the pope celebrated the closing mass for the World Meeting of Families. He officiated from a stage in Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Logan Circle Stage for Pope John Paul II, 1979

The public Mass held in Logan Circle on October 3, 1979, drew more than a million people, according to police estimates at the time, stretching on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from City Hall to the Art Museum.

Although the one million attendance figure has been widely used since Pope John Paul II's 1979 visit, and organizers at the World Meeting of Families 2015 predicted more than one million people would attend a parkway Mass on September 27, recent appraisals by crowd specialists say that the parkway can hold only about 400,000 people. Organizers set up giant screens beyond the parkway to handle the overflow.

In 1979, the papal stage and altar at Logan Circle brought controversy as Mayor Frank Rizzo spent $205,569 of public funds during its construction. A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against the City of Philadelphia argued that using public money to build the stage amounted to “public sponsorship of a religious service.” The city lost the lawsuit and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia reimbursed the costs of the construction.

To avoid a similar issue with the 2015 visit of Pope Francis, the City of Philadelphia made clear that the $45 million in expenses for the papal event would be paid by the World Meeting of Families, covering all religious and nonreligious aspects of the visit.

Crowd at Pope John Paul II's Mass in 1979

During the 1972 to 1980 tenure of Mayor Frank Rizzo, a time of white flight to the suburbs and increases in crime rates, taxes, and poverty, tensions ran high between white residents and African Americans. In this context, in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the pope prayed that everyone in the region would “succeed in making your inner city and suburbs places where people are no strangers to each other, where every man, woman and child feels respected; where nobody feels abandoned, rejected or alone.” In his homily at the Mass in Logan Circle that followed, John Paul urged the hundreds of thousands in attendance to preserve the human and Christian values—especially liberty and justice—of the city’s and the nation’s heritage.

Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II (1920-2005), shown here, was the only other pope to make an official visit to Philadelphia, on October 3 and 4, 1979, as part of his first trip to the United States as pope. Popes use their visits to encourage faith, emphasize their priorities, and fulfill their role as pastors. The places visited use these trips to highlight their successes, history, and culture on an international stage.

Traffic Perimeter for Pope's Visit

Security measures in 2015 were far more robust than in 1979. The first papal visit had no secure vehicle perimeter to block traffic, nor was there screening of visitors with magnetometers or high fences severely restricting access to the principal papal venues. The 2015 visit, designated a National Special Security Event by the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security, led authorities to implement unprecedented travel restrictions, criticized by some as excessive. These measures included closing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the Vine Street Expressway, and large stretches of the Schuylkill Expressway to private vehicles and preventing incoming traffic into the three-square-mile papal security perimeter, shown here, for the entire weekend.

Historic Visit

This postcard peddled by a vendor on Market Street, anticipated the arrival of Pope Francis at Independence Hall, where he spoke about immigration and religious freedom.

Related Topics

• Holy Experiment
• Philadelphia and the World
• Philadelphia and the Nation
• Philadelphia, the Place that Loves You Back
• City of Brotherly Love

Time Periods

• Twenty-First Century
• Twentieth Century after 1945
• Center City Philadelphia
• Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
• Roman Catholic Parishes
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Missionaries

Related Reading

Ivereigh, Austen. The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope .  New York: Henry Holt, 2014.

Pilgrim of Peace: The Homilies and Addresses of His Holiness Pope John Paul II on the Occasion of His Visit to the United States of America .  Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1979.

Simon, Roger D.  Philadelphia: A Brief History . Harrisburg, Pa.: Huggins Printing Co., 2003.

Walsh, Mary Ann, ed. John Paul II: A Light for the World . New York: Sheed & Ward, 2003.

Weigel, George. A Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II . New York: HarperCollins, 2005.

Weigley, Russell F, ed.  Philadelphia: A 300-Year History . New York: W.W. Norton, 1982.

Related Collections

Papal Visit-John Paul II 1979 Collection, Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center , 100 E. Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood, Pa.

Related Places

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul , Eighteenth Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia.

Independence Hall , Chestnut Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets, Philadelphia.

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary , 100 Wynnewood Rd., Wynnewood, Pa.

Temporary exhibits related to 2015 visit of Pope Francis ( listed by Philly.com ).

Backgrounders

Connecting Headlines with History

• Pope In Philly: FAQ (WHYY, July 13, 2015)
• PATCO readies rail passes for pope's visit (WHYY, July 16, 2015)
• Welcome Pope banner unveiled at cathedral (WHYY, July 29, 2015)
• Prison workshop crafting chair for Pope Francis (WHYY, August 24, 2015)
• Bike enthusiast plans a "pope ride" (WHYY, August 26, 2015)
• Papal tickets revive interest in visit for some suburban parishes (WHYY, September 7, 2015)
• SEPTA offering more subway stops for pope weekend and credits to monthly pass holders (WHYY, September 8, 2015)
• Philly side hustle will be on full display during papal visit (WHYY, September 17, 2015)
• Five things Philly officials learned from Pope Francis' visit (WHYY, November 11, 2015)
• Philadelphia to absorb $8 million in papal costs (WHYY, December 3, 2015)
• Security, vending plans for DNC convention differ from papal preparations (WHYY, March 28, 2016)
• New housing facility in the name of Pope Francis opens in Philadelphia (WHYY, May 4, 2016)
• Philly Orchestra sues for unpaid $70K bill from papal performances (WHYY, October 27, 2016)
• Extravaganzas and inconveniences: Philly becoming host with the most (WHYY, May 1, 2017)
• Schedule: 2015 Apostolic Journey of Pope Francis to the United States of America
• For Teachers: The Vatican and Social Change: The Pope Visits Philadelphia (Historical Society of Pennsylvania)
• World Meeting of Families 2015
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• A Hope For The Pope Under The Gold Dome (Hidden City Philadelphia)
• The Pope 2015 Visit to Philadelphia (Collection from Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, Philly.com)
• The Holy See
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• Ticketed Areas for Pope's Visit (Philly.com, September 3, 2015)
• Papal parade plans released after public outcry over required tickets (Philly.com, September 4, 2015)
• Address of the Holy Father at Independence Hall (The Holy See)

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Pope Francis’ Itinerary for Historic Visit to Philadelphia Officially Released by the Vatican

In addition to the Festival of Families and Papal Mass, the Holy Father will deliver an address at Independence Hall and visit inmates at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility among other activities as part of an expansive two-day visit

Philadelphia, PA (June 30, 2015) -Today, the Vatican released the comprehensive itinerary for Pope Francis’ journey to the United States, including his schedule for Philadelphia on September 26-27, which will close the 6-day Apostolic Journey. Confirmed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 , Pope Francis will take part in eight public (8) events in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, in addition to his arrival at/departure from Atlantic Aviation. The following reflects the chronological order of confirmed Papal events for Philadelphia.

Saturday, September 26

• Private Arrival: Atlantic Aviation
• The Cathedral Mass with Pope Francis: The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
• Greeting of the Holy Father by the Seminarians of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary: Exterior Front Steps of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
• “We Hold These Truths… :” Independence Hall (Outdoor; Overlooking Independence Mall)
• Address by Pope Francis (Expected Themes: Religious Liberty and Immigration)
• The Festival of Families: The Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Sunday, September 27

• Address to Cardinals + Bishops attending World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015: Saint Martin’s Chapel at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
• Visit with Prisoners and Select Families: Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
• The Papal Mass: The Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Projected: 4 p.m. EST)
• A Celebration of World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 Supporters + Volunteers: Atlantic Aviation
• Official Departure Ceremony: Atlantic Aviation

Decisions regarding which events will require passes are still to be determined. The Festival of Families (Saturday, September 26) and the Papal Mass (Sunday, September 27) on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway are open to the public.

“Pope Francis’ plans for his visit to Philadelphia seamlessly integrate powerful public moments with more intimate gatherings that are deeply grace filled,” said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M., Cap. “It is an itinerary that says, ‘I walk with you – and so does the Lord.’ It says, ‘Embrace your faith and embrace one another as children of God.’ It says, ‘God forgives.’ And it says ‘Come together in celebration.’ The Holy Father’s planned itinerary is a true gift to all of us in the Philadelphia regardless of faith tradition. I am confident we will leave a positive and lasting impression upon Pope Francis and keep the spirit of his visit in our hearts as we seek constantly to build a better society.”

The below provides a brief overview of the key sites selected for Papal events/moments in Philadelphia:

Atlantic Aviation Atlantic Aviation is a fixed-base operator which has been granted the right by the Philadelphia International Airport to serve private, corporate and general aviation aircrafts on the airport’s premises. It is where Air Force One and Air Force Two land when the President and/or Vice President visit Philadelphia.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Considered Pennsylvania’s largest cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul serves as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as it houses the chair or “cathedra” of the Archbishop. Additionally, the Cathedral is the largest and most architecturally-eminent structure brownstone in the City of Philadelphia with its Roman-Corinthian style, majestic facade, vaulted dome, eight (8) impressive side chapels and main sanctuary. It was designed by Napoleon LeBrun, known for his work on the Philadelphia Academy of Music, and John Notman, designer of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.

Modeled after the Lombard Church of Saint Charles (San Carlo al Corso) in Rome, the cathedral is central to the history of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The great dome is a recognizable sign of this religious landmark among the many civic ones on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Completed in 1864, the Cathedral Basilica seats approximately 1,500 people.

Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, established in 1832 by Philadelphia’s third Bishop, is the oldest Catholic institution of higher learning in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has served as a leading institution in the formation of Catholic men for the Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and dioceses throughout the country for more than 180 years. As a center of enrichment for the larger Church community, Saint Charles provides ongoing academic and pastoral programs to priests, deacons, religious and lay men and women through the School of Diaconal Studies and the Graduate School of Theology.

Past dignitary visitors include four future Popes: Pius XII as Cardinal Pacelli, Paul VI as Cardinal Montini, John Paul II, twice as Cardinal Wojtyla and a third time as Pope, and Benedict XVI as Cardinal Ratzinger. Additional visitors who have received honorary degrees at Saint Charles include Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Mother Angelica, and Avery Cardinal Dulles.

Independence Hall Independence Hall is the centerpiece of Independence National Historic Park in Center City Philadelphia. The United States of America was born within the walls of Independence Hall, as it is the location where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. In 1787, the Constitution of the United States, which forms the framework for our government, was signed in the very same building. Independence Hall is a fundamental icon of United States history. It is the home of America’s universal principles of human dignity, religious freedom and democracy.

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway Inspired by Paris’ Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a breathtaking boulevard that runs through the cultural heart of Philadelphia. Stretching from City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a scenic, tree-lined boulevard flanked by some of Philadelphia’s most acclaimed tourist destinations, leading the way to a cultural mecca of world-class museums and educational institutions. The Parkway also provides access to Fairmount Park, consisting of 63 parks across 9,200 acres. Fountains, small parks, statues and monuments all give the Parkway its own special characteristic, unique to the City of Brotherly Love.

The Chapel of Saint Martin of Tours at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary The facade of Saint Martin’s Chapel is modeled after the Church of Santa Maria della Pace in Rome. The spiritual home of the College Division since its opening in 1928, Saint Martin’s features a four-manual Moller pipe organ with over 2,500 pipes. It was donated by Albert Greenfield, a prominent Philadelphian and friend of Cardinal Dennis Dougherty. Behind the altar are paintings depicting the life of Saint Martin of Tours, the 4th-century Roman soldier-turned-bishop. Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Philadelphia in 1979, met with the seminarians of Saint Charles in Saint Martin’s Chapel.

Curran-Fromhold Correctional Center Opening in 1995, Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF) is the largest Philadelphia Prison System facility. The prison was named in honor of Warden Patrick Curran and Deputy Warden Robert Fromhold, who were killed at Philadelphia’s Holmesburg prison in the line of duty in 1973. The 25-acre prison consists of four (4) housing buildings and processes nearly 30,000 males annually.

We are exceptionally grateful for the Holy Father’s plans for Philadelphia as they are reflective of his pastoral priorities as well as Philadelphia’s identity as the birthplace of religious freedom and a city of neighborhoods built by diverse immigrant communities,” said Donna Crilley Farrell, Executive Director for the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015. “With his itinerary announced, we can now finalize our own planning knowing the places that Pope Francis wishes to visit and the themes upon which he wishes to touch. We have every confidence that this visit move us all in ways we cannot yet imagine.”

Co-sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the World Meeting of Families is a triennial global event that seeks to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe and highlight its intrinsic value to the good of society. This international gathering will welcome Pope Francis to the United States for the first time in his Papacy. Being held in the United States for the first time ever, the official theme for the 2015 World Meeting of Families is “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”

For more information regarding the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, visit www.WorldMeeting2015.org . For more information regarding The Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, which co-sponsors the World Meeting of Families, visit http://www.familiam.org/famiglia_eng/00002554_HOME_ENG.html . You can also engage the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia on Facebook (World Meeting of Families 2015) (Encuentro Mundial de las Familias – Filadelfia 2015) , Twitter (@WMF2015) (@WMF2015ES) and Instagram (WMF2015) .

About World Meetings of Families Beginning with 1994, The Year of the Family, the Pontifical Council for the Family has been responsible for organizing the World Meetings of Families in Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and now, Philadelphia (2015). Since its inception by Saint John Paul II, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe.

Contact Kenneth A. Gavin Director of Communications 215-587-3747

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September 07, 2015

The Papal Bull-etin: Everything you need to know about Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia

Whether you're trekking into center city or staying home, here's what you need to know.

Pope Francis is visiting Philadelphia on Sept. 26 and 27. From event tickets to  road closures to security perimeters and altered public transit schedules,  here's what you need to know to see the Holy Father:

If you plan to attend

• Pope Francis will make his first public appearance at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at Independence Mall, where he will deliver a speech on immigration and religious liberty. He will then appear at the Festival of Families at 7:30 p.m. on the Parkway, an event expected to draw 800,000 people. 

• The biggest event of the weekend happens Sunday, Sept. 27. Some 1.5 million people are expected to flood the Parkway when Pope Francis delivers a 4 p.m. Mass at Eakins Oval. For many, it will be reminiscent of the Mass said by Pope John Paul II at Logan Square in October 1979.

• Pope Francis will parade down the Parkway twice during the weekend, giving pilgrims an opportunity to see him up-close. The first parade will occur prior to the Festival of Families. Pope Francis will be driven down the Parkway from Eakins Oval, around City Hall, and back up to Eakins Oval. A second, smaller parade is slated for Sunday, but exact details have not been announced.

• Be prepared to walk — and possibly stand idly for hours. As detailed below, Center City will be closed to most vehicular traffic. Massive crowds are expected to flock onto the Parkway and Independence Mall long before Pope Francis arrives. There will be food and beverage vendors available. 

• Secure perimeters, in which visitors must pass through metal detectors, will be established around the Parkway and Independence Mall.  (See map below.)  The Parkway perimeter opens at 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25. The Independence Mall perimeter will open at 6 a.m. Saturday. Pilgrims are prohibited from bringing bicycles, hard coolers, drones, packages, selfie sticks and glass, thermal or metal containers. Backpacks and signs are limited to certain restrictions. A full listing of prohibited items can be found here . 

•The areas in green and black on the map will be open only to ticket-holders. The area in orange will be open to the people who go through security screenings. The light blue area is the traffic box, where incoming traffic is not allowed. 

• Tickets are required to access the areas providing the best views of Pope Francis. Only ticketed attendees can access the portion of the Parkway extending from 20th Street to Eakins Oval. Tickets are being distributed by event organizers to the 219 parishes comprising the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Another 10,000 free tickets to each Parkway event will be made available online to the public Wednesday, Sept. 9 on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Tickets also are needed to watch Pope Francis speak at Independence Mall. Those tickets were freely distributed online Tuesday, Sept. 8 on a first-come, first-serve basis. They were claimed within two minutes.

• Forty Jumbotrons will be placed throughout Center City to broadcast live papal events and other programming beginning at 6 a.m. Live broadcasts involving Pope Francis include his airport arrival, a cathedral Mass, his speech at Independence Hall, the Festival of Families and the public papal Mass.

• Major highways will be shut down and most private vehicles will be restricted from entering a "traffic box," also known as the Francis Festival Grounds, encompassing Center City and surrounding neighborhoods, as detailed more fully below.

• The region's public transit systems all will be operating on amended schedules, as also detailed below. Many trains require passengers to purchase special passes to ride.

If you plan to take SEPTA

• SEPTA is closing most stations on its regional rail, subway, trolley and high speed lines in an attempt to shuttle passengers into Center City as quickly as possible. The boarding stations that will open are shown on the map below (Since releasing the map, SEPTA has since announced several additional stations along the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines also will be open, but they are not indicated on the map):

• Special papal passes are required to ride SEPTA's regional rails on Saturday and Sunday. No other fares will be permitted. The transit agency made 175,000 papal passes available for each day. The passes — which remain available — need to be purchased in advance. Parking outside SEPTA's stations will be limited.

• SEPTA has published an interactive map showing snapshots of parking locations, customer drop-off and pick-up points, customer staging areas, road closures and vehicle access points at each of the 18 outlying Regional Rail stations.

• The Airport Line will operate inbound and outbound trains every 30 minutes on Saturday and Sunday. Passengers will need to purchase a one-day papal pass, available for purchase in airport terminals. Local residents and other visitors can pay to park in the airport lot and take the Airport Line into Center City. Those with pre-purchased papal passes will get priority boarding between 5:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. After 8 a.m., weekly and monthly passes also will be accepted as valid fares.

• Special three-day passes are necessary to the ride the Norristown High Speed Line and Trolley routes 101 and 102. The $10 passes, made available via online lottery, are the only acceptable fare for Saturday and Sunday. The passes also are valid Monday, Sept. 28, when standard fares again are accepted.

• SEPTA also will sell three-day passes to ride its subways, buses and remaining trolleys during the papal visit. The passes are on sale for $10 apiece. However, standard tokens and passes also will be accepted on those transit modes.

• The Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines will operate inbound and outbound trains from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. However, the lines only will stop at select stops, listed here .

• The following SEPTA city bus routes will operate on weekday schedules on Saturday and Sunday: 3, 5, 6, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 31, 33, 42, 47, 50, 52, 55, 58, 66, 70 and R. The following suburban bus routes also will operate on a weekday schedule: 99, 103, 104, 107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 123, 124, 125, 201 and 206. Another 28 bus routes and the Route 10 trolley will be suspended. Affected routes will be posted on SEPTA's website

• Bicycles will not be permitted on SEPTA trains or inside transit vehicles.

If you plan to take New Jersey Transit

• Special tickets will be required to ride the Atlantic City Rail Line and the River Line. Both lines will operate on a limited schedule on Saturday and Sunday. No other fares, including monthly passes, Family SuperSaver or cash, will be accepted on either line. 

• Special tickets for the Atlantic City Rail Line can be pre-purchased here . Special tickets for the River Line can be bought at the following stations — Trenton, Bordentown, Florence, Burlington South, Route 73/Pennsauken and Pennsauken Transportation Center.

• The Atlantic City Rail Line will operate hourly express trips from the Atlantic City Rail Terminal to 30th Street Station beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The last train leaves Atlantic City at 3 p.m. The trains will not stop at any other stops.

• Following the Festival of Families on Saturday, trains will depart 30th Street Station at 10 p.m. and operate every 30 minutes. Following the Sunday Mass, trains will leave at 7 p.m. and operate every 30 minutes.

• The River Line will offer limited service beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Trains only will stop at Bordentown, Florence, Burlington South, Route 73/Pennsauken, Pennsauken Transit Center and the Walter Rand Transportation Center. Trains will not operate beyond the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden due to expected crowded road conditions.

• Following the papal events, River Line trains will depart Walter Rand Transportation Center on a load-and-go basis.

• No bicycles will be permitted aboard NJ Transit trains.

• All bus routes that typically travel into Center City will terminate at the Walter Rand Transportation Center. Additional bus service will operate on Route 419, which runs along the River Line between Burlington Towne Centre and Camden. Enhanced service will be provided on Route 554 from Atlantic City to Lindenwold. No special ticketing is needed for bus service.

• Access Link service to and from Philadelphia will be suspended Friday through Monday. Service will resume Tuesday, Sept. 29.

If you plan to take PATCO

• PATCO will provide express, non-stop service westbound to its 10th and Locust streets station in Center City from four New Jersey stops — Lindenwold, Woodcrest, Ferry Avenue and Broadway. Return trips departing Center City only will stop at those four stations.

• Only passengers who have pre-purchased Freedom cards will be able to ride. The passes can be purchased until Sept. 1 at the agency's Broadway Station and on its website .

• Parking will be limited at the stations. It is not available at the Broadway station in Camden.

If you plan to drive

• Major roadways begin closing near Philadelphia at 10 p.m. Friday. The Schuylkill Expressway will be closed eastbound from I-476 to I-95 and westbound from I-95 to City Avenue. The entire Vine Street Expressway will be closed. City Avenue will be closed from Lancaster Avenue to Belmont Avenue.

• The Benjamin Franklin Bridge will be limited to pedestrian traffic beginning at 10 p.m. Friday. It will not reopen until sometime Monday. In New Jersey, I-676 will be closed westbound from Exit 3 to the bridge. The Admiral Wilson Boulevard will be closed westbound from Airport Circle to the bridge.

• I-95 will remain open, but traffic will be diverted at some ramps.

• The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation launched a website that provides real-time traffic conditions on regional highways. It also includes details on the best paths to reach the papal venues and diversionary routes. 

• Only buses registered with the World Meeting of Families will be able to enter the "traffic box" engulfing Center City. Aside from emergency vehicles, no other vehicles will be permitted to enter from 6 p.m. Friday until sometime Monday.

• Heading east to west, the "traffic box" encompasses an area from the Delaware River to 38th Street in West Philly. Its southern border is South Street. Its northern border runs, east to west, along Spring Garden Street, Ridge Avenue and Girard Avenue. See the map below (note: the blue area goes into effect Friday at 6 p.m. while the purple area goes into effect the same day at 10 p.m.):

If you plan to take a taxi or UberBlack

• Taxi cabs and UberBlack service will be permitted to access the "traffic box" until 2 a.m. Saturday. They may re-enter at 3 a.m. Monday.

• Twenty-seven taxis compliant with American with Disabilities Act will be permitted to drive within the traffic box at all times.

If you plan to bike

• Biking figures to be a popular transportation mode. Bicyclists will be able to travel over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and into the Center City "traffic box."

• Indego, the city's new ridesharing bike program, will keep four bike stations open. Those locations are Rittenhouse Square, Front and Dock streets, 30th Street, and Spring Garden and Broad streets. All other docking stations will close.

• The accessibility of the Schuylkill River trail remains in question. Sufficient bike corrals for cyclists to lock their bikes also remain in doubt.

• Bicycles will not be permitted on New Jersey Transit trains or buses. SEPTA is forbidding bicycles on its regional rail service or inside transit vehicles.

If you plan to cross the Benjamin Franklin Bridge

• The Ben Franklin Bridge will be limited to pedestrian traffic beginning at 10 p.m. Friday until sometime Monday — possibly as late as noon. Walking from New Jersey to Center City is expected to take pedestrians several hours. Pedestrians will not need to pass through security checkpoints to access the bridge.

• Parking in Camden will be limited — no private parking is available — making it difficult to drive and park near the bridge. I-676 westbound will be closed from Exit 3 to the bridge. The Admiral Wilson Boulevard also will be closed westbound from Airport Circle to the bridge.

• New Jersey officials advise walkers to find a place to stay overnight in Philadelphia. Those returning should bring a flashlight for when night falls.

If you plan to take the RiverLink ferry

If you plan to travel from the airport.

• SEPTA's Airport Line will operate inbound and outbound trains every 30 minutes on Saturday and Sunday. Passengers will need to purchase a one-day papal pass, available for purchase in airport terminals, before boarding. No tickets will be sold on the trains. 

• Local residents and other visitors can pay to park in the airport lot and take the Airport Line into Center City. Passengers with pre-purchased papal passes will get priority boarding between 5:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. After 8 a.m., weekly and monthly passes also will be accepted as valid fares.

• Taxi cabs and UberBlack service will be permitted to access the "traffic box" engulfing Center City until 2 a.m. Saturday. They may re-enter at 3 a.m. Monday.

If you live within the 'traffic box'

• Heading east to west, the "traffic box" encompasses an area from the Delaware River to 38th Street in West Philly. Its southern border is South Street. Its northern border runs, east to west, along Spring Garden Street, Ridge Avenue and Girard Avenue.

• Only emergency vehicles, bicycles and buses registered with the World Meeting of Families will be able to enter. No other vehicles will be permitted to enter from 6 p.m. Friday until sometime Monday.

• Residents living within the 'traffic box' may drive their vehicles throughout it, but should be prepared for difficulties caused by massive crowds. Vehicles also can exit the box but may not re-enter until the box is disbanded Monday.

• A secure vehicle perimeter — in which no vehicles are permitted — will be established around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Independence Mall. All parked vehicles must be moved from within this area, outlined by the black line on the map below.

• Two additional fenced security perimeters, located in red on the map above, sit within the secure vehicle perimeter. Visitors must pass through metal detectors to enter those areas. 

• The secure vehicle perimeter and the fenced secure perimeter around the Parkway will be constructed at 10 p.m. Thursday. The Independence Mall fenced perimeter will go up at 10 p.m. Friday.

• Towing will begin on Sunday, Sept. 20 in preparation for the placement of fencing along the Parkway and Independence Mall. All secure zones must be cleared by Wednesday, Sept. 23. Signs will be posted on Sept. 14 warning of the planned towing. A map indicating the varied times residents must remove their vehicles is below (click on the list icon on the upper left-hand sign for a map legend).

• There are six Philadephia Parking Authority garages with 2,000 total spaces available. The garage locations are at 16th and Vine streets, 15th and Arch streets, Second and Sansom streets, 10th and Ludlow streets, Ninth and Filbert streets, and Eighth and Chestnut streets. The Naval Hospital Lot, at 1600 Pattison Ave, with 1,500 spaces, will offer free parking.

• Residents who pre-purchase a weekend-long pass to a Philadelphia Parking Authority garage space will be able to remain parked on the street until Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. They must place an exemption placard in their vehicle to prevent it from towing. Once a vehicle has entered one of the garages, it must remain there until Sept. 28. Pre-purchased tickets cost $20 for the weekend.

• Residents also can call Luxe, a private valet parking service, to pick up a car and move it out of the restricted areas. The fee is $20 per day. Residents can email [email protected] or register  here . 

If you live in Lower Merion

• Pope Francis will be staying at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary on East Wynnewood Road. Road closures are expected to create significant traffic congestion. Crowds are expected to gather near the seminary, as people hope to catch a glimpse of the pope.

• City Avenue will be closed from Lancaster Avenue to Belmont Avenue from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. 

• Lower Merion officials have said residents will be able to get to their homes by car. Residential parking passes have been distributed to preserve local street parking for residents. Those living near the seminary's entrance on East Wynnewood Road will need to enter their property through a checkpoint.

• Ensuring access to Lankenau Medical Center, located across the from the seminary, will be paramount. Lower Merion officals said parking will be available at the medical center for those with a reason to be there. Lancaster Avenue will remain open. 

• Helicopters are expected to land and take off from the seminary; Lower Merion officials said the pope is expected to use a helicopter to get to the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility on Sunday. 

Businesses/Restaurants in Center City

• Mayor Michael Nutter and event organizers are encouraging Center City businesses to remain open during the papal visit. Reading Terminal Market, McGillin's Olde Ale House, Del Frisco's Double Edge Steakhouse, Jack's Firehouse, Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks are among the eateries committed to remaining open. Wawa also will remain open.

• Businesses located within the 'traffic box' — but outside the secure vehicle zone — can get deliveries or have trash collected between midnight and 4 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Trucks must be less than 28-foot-long. Trucks entering the outer ring will not need to be screened. There are no designated entry areas.

• Businesses within the secure vehicle zone must have all delivery vehicles screened. Entry points will be announced later.

• The Philadelphia Department of Commerce launched a business resource center designed to assist businesses affected by the papal visit. Businesses can call 215-683-2100 with questions, including those concerning employees and operations, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you are pregnant or need medical assistance

• Several Center City hospitals sit within the 'traffic box' – Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Hahnemann University Hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Hospital. Penn Presbyterian Medical Center sits on the 38th Street border.

• Pregnant women will be able to travel through the restricted "traffic box" to deliver at their preferred facility, though specific details have not been announced. Other patients, such as the chronically ill, also will be able to travel through the "traffic box."

• The city has not announced its emergency preparedness plan, but emergency vehicles will be able to travel into the "traffic box." First aid tents are expected to be scattered throughout the parkway to provide assistance to pilgrims falling ill. Those requiring additional treatment will be taken to a medical facility by Philadelphia Fire and EMS officials.

• Hospitals have planned staff increases, hospital sleep-ins and supply boosts. Non-emergency services are not expected to be curtailed. Surgeries and chemotherapy treatments will be scheduled for the convenience of the patient, according to Mark Ross, healthcare emergency preparedness manager for the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

What to expect at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway

• A secure perimeter will be constructed at 10 p.m. Thursday in preparation for the weekend's Parkway events — the Festival of Families on Saturday and the papal mass on Sunday. The area, in which all pilgrims must pass through metal detectors, will open to pedestrians at 6 a.m. Friday.

• Pilgrims are prohibited from bringing bicycles, hard coolers, drones, packages, selfie sticks and glass, thermal or metal containers. Backpacks and signs are limited to certain restrictions. A full listing of prohibited items can be found  here

• Only ticketed attendees can access the portion of the Parkway extending from 20th Street to Eakins Oval. Those tickets are being distributed by event organizers to the 219 parishes comprising the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Another 10,000 free tickets to each Parkway event will be made available online to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 9 on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Ticketed pilgrims can access the Parkway by passing through security checkpoints at the following locations: Pennsylvania Avenue at the intersection of North 23rd and Spring Garden streets, North 22nd at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Hamilton Street, Hamilton Street between North 21st and North 22nd streets, North 21st Street between Hamilton Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, North 20th Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Callowhill Street, North 20th and Race streets, and North 21st and Winter streets. 

• Non-ticket holders can access the Parkway area from 20th Street to City Hall. For Saturday's Festival of Families, pilgrims can enter through security checkpoints at the following intersections: North 15th and Cherry streets, North Broad and Cherry streets, South Broad and Chestnut streets, South 15th and Chestnut streets, South 17th and Market streets, and South 17th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. For the papal Mass on Sunday, pilgrims must pass through security checkpoints at North 19th and Wood streets, North 18th and Cherry streets, and North 19th and Cherry streets.

• Jumbotrons will be placed throughout the Parkway to broadcast the Festival of Families and papal Mass, among other events.

• Suggested walking routes, outlined in green, are included on the map above.

What to expect at Independence Mall

• A secure perimeter will be built at 10 p.m. Friday in preparation for Pope Francis' speech Saturday outside Independence Hall. The area, in which all pilgrims must pass through metal detectors, will open to the public at 6 a.m. Saturday.

• Pilgrims are prohibited from bringing bicycles, hard coolers, drones, packages, selfie sticks and glass, thermal or metal containers. Backpacks and signs are limited to certain restrictions. A full listing of prohibited items can be found  here .

• Tickets are required to access Independence Mall when Pope Francis delivers his speech. A total of 10,000 tickets were freely distributed online Tuesday, Sept. 8 on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets also are being distributed by event organizers to ethnic apostolates and immigrant communities through the Archdiocesan Office of Multicultural Ministries.

• Pilgrims can enter Independence Mall through security checkpoints at the following intersections: North Fourth and Market streets, North Fourth and Chestnut streets, North Fifth and Race streets, North Fifth and Arch streets, and North Sixth and Race streets.

• Jumbotrons will be placed throughout the Mall to broadcast Pope Francis' speech on immigration, among other papal events.

If you are a student

• The School District of Philadelphia and Archdiocesan schools will be closed from Wednesday, Sept. 23 through Friday, Sept. 25.

• All Philadelphia public schools and administrative offices will also be closed Monday, Sept. 28. 

If you are traveling from Delaware County

Pope francis' philly schedule.

Saturday, Sept. 26

• Private arrival: Atlantic Aviation

• The Cathedral Mass with Pope Francis: The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

• Greeting of the Holy Father by the Seminarians: Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood

• “We Hold These Truths”: An address by Pope Francis. Outdoors on Independence Mall

• The Festival of Families: The Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Sunday, Sept. 27

• Address to cardinals and bishops attending World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015: Saint Martin’s Chapel at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood.

• Visit with prisoners and select families: Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia.

• The Papal Mass: The Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Projected start: 4 p.m. EDT)

• A Celebration of World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 Supporters + Volunteers: Atlantic Aviation

• Official departure ceremony: Atlantic Aviation

John Kopp PhillyVoice Staff

[email protected]

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So the pope came to town, spoke a few times and kissed several babies. And our city shut down to accommodate him and the pilgrims who came to watch. Was Philadelphia successful? What went right? What went wrong?

Here’s a rundown of how the papal visit went for Philadelphia with letter grades, from mass transit to crowd size to Pope Francis himself.

Infrastructure

No phrase carried more infamy heading into the weekend than “traffic box.” Cars were not allowed in this sprawling section of Philadelphia that extended well beyond Center City starting on Friday and those closest to Independence Hall and Benjamin Franklin Parkway would be towed if they weren’t moved. National Guard and police seemed to be stationed on every block throughout downtown.

But the whole thing turned out fine. Crowds inside the traffic box weren’t chaotic and it didn’t scare too many people away. In fact, the empty streets enticed plenty of walkers and cyclists. Foreign visitors expressed delight about our improvised street fairs. The Inquirer ’s Inga Saffron wrote that Philadelphia should open up a downtown street or two for pedestrians and cyclists only all the time. Before mass even ended, barriers were being removed, and the city was on its way back to normal.

And if you were in Center City Friday, before the big event but still under the restrictions, you got to experience the entertainment of a “dry-run for the apocalypse.”

Philly is all ready for Pope Francis! #popeinphilly #PopeinUS #inahyattworld pic.twitter.com/DIqSzCzPtU — The Bellevue Hotel (@BellevuePhilly) September 25, 2015

Event management

Not everything went perfectly. Likely thousands of people missed the papal mass on Sunday, waiting in line for hours but not able to get past security . The people forced to wait so long included ticket and non-ticketed people. Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 featured the same problem, so these things do happen. But for a papal event that had been planned for months and was expected to bring 1.5 million people and only brought in about half of that, this is a massive error.

Maybe security miscalculation on 21st St.Telling people at 2:45 they won’t get through checkpoint in time for Mass. pic.twitter.com/3rhsGlcjVt — daverdman (@daverdman) September 27, 2015

On the plus side, the other public papal events at Independence Mall and the Parkway ran smoothly, as did other aspects of the event. There were no widespread complaints of long lines at the numerous port-a-potties, and the city heard people’s complaints on social media about a view-obscuring tent at the mass and took it down .

Cellular coverage was not a major issue, either. A warning from NBC on-air personality seemed to be a bad sign, but it wasn’t indicative of a widespread problems, according to spokespersons from Verizon and AT&T. And the omnipresent view of smartphones when the pope drew near and ensuing placement of photos and videos on Facebook and Twitter suggested people’s phones were behaving just fine.

The World Meeting of Families estimated 750,000 people would come the Festival of Families Saturday night and 1.5 million for the mass on Sunday. The early estimates for the actual events are 700,000 for the Festival of Families and 860,000 for the Parkway mass . Though 860,000 is well off the estimate, it’s hard to say the city or the Secret Service scared people away. That — 860,000 people — is still a ton of people. The bigger problem, as mentioned above, is that not everyone could get into the mass even though fewer than expected showed up.  

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brittany Hair (@bhair)

For a city in which cars weren’t allowed to enter and transit lines were adjusted, it was sure easy to get into Philadelphia. Especially on Saturday. Patrick Kerkstra of Philly Mag , wrote of near-empty trains and driving in West Philly to the edge of the traffic box without any trouble.

Maybe the most disappointing aspect of transit was the surprisingly low quantity of people who used Regional Rail. While PATCO saw higher rate of passengers, SEPTA saw a lower than expected volume. It had about 62,000 total weekend passengers.

Pope Francis

He delighted the city from the moment he arrived, giving a thumbs up to the Bishop Shanahan band playing the “Rocky” theme and “Don’t Stop Believin.’” He kissed at least 10 babies while rolling in his popemobile. He accepted a bear hug from an inmate at CFC . He blessed the special needs child of Shanahan’s band director. Francis did everything that has made him the ‘cool’ pope. It would’ve been nice to see him visit a neglected area of Philadelphia for a surprise detour — as he’s done in other countries and in his hometown of Rome — but his jaunt to St. Joseph’s was a nice surprise for the students of Philadelphia’s only Catholic  Jesuit university.

One special Jesuit showed up on campus today. We got the shot of a lifetime. #PopeInPhilly (photo: @matt_hobbo) pic.twitter.com/ZroOvCrxO8 — The Hawk (@sjuhawknews) September 27, 2015

Success for local businesses

And the only thing preventing this grade from being an F is the possibility of restaurants teaming up with organizations benefitting the homeless to give extra food to those in need.

Nutter and city officials tried to get businesses to buy in to their #OpenInPHL and “I’ll Be There” mottos after some concerns expressed by the business community. They should’ve been realistic. Restaurants that stayed open, except for some that offered special deals on the sidewalks and streets, saw few customers. To make it worse, some had ordered extra supplies thinking the weekend would be a windfall.

A leading-economist spoke to Billy Penn several weeks ago and predicted the city would see zero economic impact from the papal visit, despite suggestions from the city and the World Meeting of Families of an impact up to $500 million. The lack of business that got done is one reason why. The economist also had a suggestion of a tax agreement that should be made between Philadelphia and the businesses that suffered. If Philadelphia made $500 million as projected, there should be enough tax revenue it can share with restaurants and businesses to make up for the losses they sustained.

Philadelphia people

We were really nice. Nutter complimented residents during his post-papal-visit address Sunday night, and examples of goodwill were easy to find. 

Neighbors bring TV to people stuck in line for Parkway: http://t.co/jbXT8Ond5k #PopeinPhilly pic.twitter.com/hwN2Ab1Okr — The UpSide (@UpsideStories) September 27, 2015

. @FOX29philly .State Troopers get applause as they leave the Parkway after Papal Mass. #Fox29Pope pic.twitter.com/EJhnB8cbEC — Dave Schratwieser (@DSchratwieser) September 27, 2015

Mark Dent is a reporter/curator at BillyPenn. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where he covered the Jerry Sandusky scandal, Penn State football and the Penn State administration. His... More by Mark Dent

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Everything You Need to Know About Pope Francis' Visit

By nbc10 staff • published september 15, 2015 • updated on september 27, 2015 at 11:32 am.

Pope Francis will be in Philadelphia September 26 and 27 for the World Meeting of Families. To help you out, we've created this page to aid with some questions you might have regarding travel, closures, timing, etc.

Many of the answers to these FAQs are quick-hits; for full answers, links are provided as well.

What security restrictions and closures do I need to know about?

The bulk of closures will take place on Friday night and continue to get more restrictive throughout the weekend. No-parking zones expanded throughout the week.

We've put together a full day-by-day breakdown and timeline of what's closing when for the papal visit .

Which roads will be closed during the Papal visit?

Beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, September 25, the following highways were closed:

I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) eastbound from I-476 (Blue Route) to I-95 I-76 westbound from I-95 to Route 1 I-676 (Vine Street Expressway) in both directions from I-76 to I-95

These roads are expected to be open again by noon on Monday, Sept. 28.

On Saturday morning at 6 a.m., US Route 1 from Route 30 to Belmont Ave will close. It will reopen after 10 p.m. and then be shut down again on Sunday morning at 7 a.m. through the afternoon.

MORE COVERAGE:

• When roads are closing
• How to get around the road closures

I'm not planning on attending any WMOF events. Will other places around the city still be open?

Yes. While some places have rescheduled some events (Union Transfer moved the dates for a few of their concerts), the city is not shutting down completely. The Philadelphia Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation will both close for the weekend of Pope Francis' visit, but will be open during the WMOF congress. The Barnes will have extended hours (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) from September 21-25, and the Museum of Art will stay open until 8:45 on September 23, with discounted admission as well.

The Philadelphia Zoo will be closed that weekend, but they are also hosting many visitors, including a church congregation from Ridgewood, New Jersey .

Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital will also remain open during the Papal visit. Public safety officers will be located at 38th Street to assist people traveling to the hospital with pets.

Even if you're not planning on leaving the house, there are still preparations to be made. NBC10's Lauren Mayk has the latest on filling out your Pope Checklist .

Who are some of the big names that will be performing during the Papal Weekend?

Actor Mark Wahlberg will host The Festival of Families with Pope Francis in Philadelphia. Aretha Franklin, The Fray, Jim Gaffigan, Marie Miller, Andrea Bocelli, Juanes and the Philadelphia Orchestra will also perform. Read more on Mark Wahlberg here .

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I'm traveling to Philadelphia and don't know much about area roads and how to get around the city. Where can I go for more information about travel?

Governor Tom Wolf announced that PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike launched a much needed detailed travelers' website to assist people traveling to see the Pope. The site's homepage gives you options to view information on real-time traffic conditions for the highways in the Philadelphia region, how to get to and around the Papal venues. Also the pages on the inside will give visitors health tips and information for street and highway closings.

How can I get information should an emergency arise?

NBC10.com and the NBC10 app will provide up to the minute information as news breaks. The NBC10 app will provide news alerts pushed to your mobile device.

The City of Philadelphia is also providing text message alerts through the Office of Emergency Management. You can enroll in this service by texting "papalvisit" to 888777. Again these alerts wil be sent out by the city.

Will schools be closed during the Papal visit?

Yes, Philadelphia public schools will be closed on Wednesday, September 23 for Yom Kippur and Thursday, Friday and Monday, September 24, 25 and 28 for the Papal visit.

Catholic schools are closed Wednesday, September 23 through Friday September 25.

Many area colleges and universities are also closed for the Papal visit.

What other services will be impacted during the Papal visit?

UPS has announced delivery service interruptions Friday and Saturday of the Papal visit in Philadelphia.

Megabus warned riders to plan for delays during the Papal visit.

The United States Postal Service is suspending mail collection and delivery in eight Philadelphia postal codes on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27 during the papal visit.

Curbside trash and recycling collections will be suspended Friday, September 25 and Monday, September 28 cityside, according to the City of Philadelphia .

I got tickets and will be going to an event! What items aren't allowed?

Relatively strict security measures are in place, which ban selfies sticks, laser pointers, bikes, drones, and various other items. Bags can be no larger than 18 inches x 13 inches x 7 inches, and no pets will be permitted outside of service animals.

A full list of prohibited items can be found here .

I don't have tickets for an event but want to watch. Where can I go?

There are 40 jumbotrons that will be set up throughout the city to allow everyone an opportunity to see the events unfold. Some are located near or on the Ben Franklin Parkway, but there will be many set up near City Hall and Independence Hall.

Click here for exact locations of the jumbotrons .

I want to buy Pope gear while I'm in town as a souvenir. Where can I buy some merchandise?

Aramark, the official merchandise provider for Pope Francis' visit during the World Meeting of Families, will celebrate its new pop-up Pope shop in the lobby of its headquarters at 11th and Market streets in Center City Philadelphia. It is currently open and will remain open throughout the Pope's visit.

How will the suburbs be affected by the influx of people?

Thousands of people will be boarding Regional Rail stations in the suburbs, causing major traffic delays in Radnor and Fort Washington, among others. Emergency vehicles will be roving around Montgomery County ready to respond to any backups or emergency situations. There may also be food and water supplied locally for people who may be stuck for up to hours.

State police will also be flying in helicopters to assist people if necessary.

Individual towns and counties may make announcements of their own, so stay tuned to your local area announcements for the latest on how you may be affected.

I live in New Jersey. How can I get into Philadelphia to see Pope Francis?

The Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed to vehicles starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, September 25, but it will be open to pedestrians. Bike riders will also be allowed to cross the bridge, but they will have to walk their bikes across.

NBC10's Matt DeLucia walked the bridge in August and gave us some information about the Bridge's function during the pontiff's visit.

The RiverLink Ferry will also be open and taking passengers from Camden to Philadelphia , with extended hours during Pope Francis' visit on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $7 and will be sold online.

PATCO will also be running trains in from South Jersey, and tickets are expected to be available at stations during the weekend. More information on travel from New Jersey can be found here .

Okay, once I get into the city, how do I get around?

Organizers have been saying for months that public transit is the way to go to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia. SEPTA has announced increases to the number of passes and parking spots along their routes. Every SEPTA stop is within two miles of Logan Circle.

There are also 3-day passes available for just $10 , which will allow you to travel on subways, buses and trolleys from Saturday September 26 to Monday, September 28.

For a full diagram or to buy tickets, visit SEPTA's website .

Certain cabs have been given permission to drive around in the designated pope zone as well, and Philadelphia's bike share program Indego will be available so people can rent bikes within the blocked off areas.

I have a question that wasn't answered here. Who should I ask?

The Papal Visit Playbook has these answers and much more on the World Meeting of Families website.

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Papal visits to philadelphia.

This lesson asks students to complete an inquiry-based analysis of news articles from the papal visits to Philadelphia, in 1979 and 2015, examining them within the context of global issues such as the human rights, poverty, the environment, and materialism. When looking at the articles surrounding both visits, students should think about the point of view of the authors, the ideas presented by the popes, and the interpretation of those ideas.

The articles span from the first visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979 to more recent articles remembering the first visit and articles on Pope Francis in 2015. Engage students by asking questions throughout such as, “How does this interpretation fit the larger context of history both then and now, and how was it influential?” Be sure to compare and contrast how the visit was written about in 1979 with contemporary news accounts to see if or how coverage has changed. These articles offer an opportunity to discuss a diversity of opinions within the community and to tie political and social history to literacy standards.

Essential Questions

Students will be able to:

• Analyze multiple sources on a topic and conclude the point of view of the author.
• Understand how ideas and opinions can change over time by examining multiple primary source documents.

Other Materials

Primary sources:.

Articles and a photo collage from Pope John Paul II’s visit:

• “The Last Papal Visit to Philadelphia: John Paul II in 1979,” Philadelphia Inquirer , Oct. 4, 1979
• “City Greets Pope John Paul II,” Daily Pennsylvanian , Oct. 4, 1979
• Philadelphians Cheer First Paper Visit, 1979 - From Catholic Standard and Times reprinted with permission by CatholicPhilly.com
• Freedom Pope's Theme at Logan Circle Mass, 1979 - From Catholic Standard and Times reprinted with permission by CatholicPhilly.com
• Photo collage from visit - Reprinted with permission by CatholicPhilly.com

Pope John Pual II's homily's and speeches:

• Pope John Paul II’s Homily from Logan Square, Oct. 3, 1979
• Pope John Paul II's Human Rights Speech for the United Nations - from Catholic Standard and Times reprinted with permission from CatholicPhilly.com

Articles remembering Pope John Paul II’s visit:

• Cardinal Rigali, “Thirtieth Anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s Visit to Philadelphia,” 2009
• “Reflecting on Pope John Paul II’s Visit to Philadelphia in 1979”
• “Philly Will be the Safest Place in the World” Our Sunday Visitor
• Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia Papal Visits by William Madges

Articles on Pope Francis:

• Pope Francis, Laudato Si , readers’ guide
• For the most up to date information on Pope Francis’s visit, check Philly.com , ncronline.org , or c atholicphilly.com , and search Pope Francis.

Suggested Instructional Procedures

• Begin the inquiry with a connecting question that will get students thinking about the primary sources in connection to their own lives. Sample questions could be: What role does religion play in your life? What do you consider to be your culture? Do the religious views of others ever influence your actions or beliefs?
• To set the context of the 1970s, have students read a book such as Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Although it is written in the 1960s, it was an important influence in the fight against the use of chemicals in the natural world. In addition, check out websites such as atomicbombmuseum.org , President Johnson's State of the Union Address (1964), and EarthDay.org to set the 1970s - and the Pope’s visit - into the context of increasing environmental awareness, concerns about poverty, and the continuing effects of the Cold War.
• Introduce Pope John Paul II by providing a brief overview of his life.  Then ask students to read Pope John Paul II’s homily from when he visited Philadelphia in 1979. Ask students to write down the main ideas of the author (the Pope) and how they fit in with what they know about the 1970s. What was the main message the Pope was trying to convey?
• Next, have students read selected primary sources (roughly 2-4) from those listed and write down the main ideas from each. Have students answer the following questions: What was the author’s point of view? What did the articles say were the main ideas of the Pope’s message? Was the article positive or negative in its coverage? Who was writing this article and why? When was it written? Is it a reliable source of information? Students can then compare and contrast the local and national articles as well as compare the articles to what the Pope actually said in his homily. Do you think the articles understood the Pope’s message? Why or why not?
• To understand the bigger picture, students should then place these events in the context of world events. Why was the message important at the time, and how did it relate to issues such as the human rights, poverty, the environment, and consumer culture? Discuss how the 1970s was a time of increased environmental awareness and political participation.
• Take the conversation into the present day and discuss if the issues addressed by Pope John Paul II are still of concern today. Did it create any change in the actions of Philadelphians or Americans?
• As a further discussion, compare and contrast the visit in 1979 to the visit in 2015. What can we learn from this history? Can one person change community attitudes?

Plans in this Unit

Grade level, standards/eligible content, in partnership with:, about the author.

Alicia Parks, Wells Fargo Education Manager at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

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Pope Francis Itinerary & Schedule in DC, New York, and Philadelphia

Washington, dc     sept. 22–24.

Arrival from Cuba

His arrival at Andrews Air Force Base marks the first time the pope will set foot on U.S. soil. He will be greeted by President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill.

Welcoming ceremony

Pope Francis will appear at an official welcoming ceremony on the White House South Lawn. He will meet with President Obama following the South Lawn appearance.

Vatican Pool/Getty Images

Papal parade

After leaving the White House, Pope Francis will travel in the "popemobile" along 15th Street, Constitution Avenue and 17th Street, NW. The parade will be free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Gates will be opening for the Ellipse and the National Mall at 4:00 a.m.

Meeting with U.S. bishops

His Holiness will lead a midday prayer from the Liturgy of Hours, alongside Bishops from the United States at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.

Holy Mass and canonization of Junipero Serra

Approximately 25,000 people are expected to attend this mass and it will serve as a canonization for Franciscan missionary Junipero Serra, a Spanish-born Franciscan Friar known for starting nine Spanish missions in California in the 1700s.

George Rose/Getty Images

U.S. Capitol

Pope Francis will address a joint meeting of Congress, making him the first pope in history to do so. Video screens will be set up on the West Front of the Capitol toward the National Mall so thousands can watch the speech from outside.

Visit to the Charitable Center of St. Patrick Parish and meeting with the homeless

The pontiff will make a brief visit to the oldest Catholic church in the nation’s capital. Following the visit to St. Patrick's Parish, Pope Francis will give a blessing to clients of the St. Maria Meals program of the Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Washington. The pope is expected to enjoy a meal of chicken, green beans, carrots and pasta salad with the charity’s homeless clients.

Departure for New York

Pope Francis heads to the Empire State from the same base where he landed on Tuesday.

New York     Sept. 24–26

Arrival in New York

An hour later, Pope Francis arrives at JFK airport in New York City. The Diocese of Brooklyn picked five Catholic school students who will greet Pope Francis when he touches down.

Evening prayer (Vespers)

The pope will lead the evening prayer at a Vespers service held in the St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The event is only open to clergy of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, but a live stream will be available. Pope Francis will be the fourth pontiff to have visited the renowned cathedral. The young students will give the pontiff a bouquet filled with a list of prayers and good works from Catholic school students from Brooklyn and Queens.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Address to the United Nations

The United Nations is used to having high-profile attendees but Pope Francis will be breaking the mold on Friday. He is expected to address the General Assembly on strategies to combat poverty and protect the environment. His visit coincides with the UN's 70th anniversary.

Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial

The pontiff will visit the 9/11 Memorial site in lower Manhattan. He will then meet with local representatives of the world religions inside the museum's Foundation Hall, as part of a multi-religious meeting for peace.

Justin Lane-Pool/Getty Images

Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School

Pope Francis will then visit a third grade class at Our Lady Queen of Angels, an elementary school in East Harlem.

Papal procession

A trip to “The Big Apple” wouldn’t be complete without a stroll through Central Park, so Pope Francis will motorcade between 72nd and 60th streets. More than 93,000 people entered a lottery for a free pair of tickets to the processional, and 80,000 tickets were given out.

The pope will hold Mass in the same famous arena that houses playoff games and sold-out concerts. Madison Square Garden can hold up to 20,000 people.

Departure for Philadelphia

Pope will travel by closed car to a downtown heliport, to catch a helicopter to JFK.

Philadelphia     Sept. 26–27

Arrival in Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s Archbishop Charles Chaput, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and the mayor of Philly Michael Nutter will roll out the red carpet for the Catholic leader. Pope Francis will be the second pope to visit the city.

This Mass is closed to the public and tickets have been limited to 1,600 people. The cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the largest Catholic church in the state.

John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Visit to Independence Mall

Standing in front of America’s birthplace, the pope will give a speech about immigration and religious freedom. Following his speech, Francis plans on touring Independence Hall, which is expected to include a stop at the Liberty Bell.

Festival of families

The Festival of Families is the closing ceremony for the World Meetings of Families conference. Actor Mark Wahlberg will be hosting the outdoor ceremony and performers include Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, and the Fray. The pope will watch the celebration, hear from six families from different continents and give a speech.

St. Charles is where Pope Francis will sleep while he’s in Philly. The seminary prepares men for the priesthood and the diaconate.

Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility

Pope Francis will visit the city’s largest jail, where most of the inmates are serving a maximum of two years or awaiting trial. The pope will give a speech in the gymnasium and after he’ll individually greet some of the 100 prisoners.

Holy Mass concluding the World Meeting of Families

Before the pope gives the Holy Mass, he’ll ride down the mile-long street in his “popemobile.” This open-air Mass is the main event and is expected to attract over a million people.

Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Visit with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families

Approximately 500 people will bid Pope Francis farewell as he heads back to the Vatican. Vice President Biden and his family will lead the ceremony before His Holiness boards his return flight.

Departure for Rome

Arrivederci Pope Francis! The pope will hold an on-board press conference before taking off. His plane is slated to touch down on Monday.

BBC World Service

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• Philadelphia

A look back at Pope John Paul II’s visit to Philadelphia in 1979

• Neema Roshania Patel

In this Oct. 3, 1979 file photo Pope John Paul II performs an outdoor mass for a huge audience at Logan Circle in Philadelphia. (AP file photo)

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Pope Francis in Philadelphia: Complete recap of the papal visit

• Updated: Sep. 28, 2015, 10:30 a.m. |
• Published: Sep. 28, 2015, 9:30 a.m.
• Lisa Wardle | Special to PennLive

PennLive reporters and photographers were in Philadelphia from Friday through Sunday to cover Pope Francis' visit to the city. Here are their stories, photos and videos from the weekend.

Midstate residents' experiences

• Seeing Pope Francis in Philadelphia emotional, 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience for midstate Catholics
• Harrisburg diocese bus trip to see #PopeinPhilly starts with prayers
• Harrisburg parishioner felt 'presence of the holy spirit' while seeing Pope Francis
• Camp Hill teachers incorporate Pope Francis' visit into every lesson
• Church screening of pope celebrating Mass was 'the next best thing,' parishioner says
• Midstate Catholics stand feet from Pope Francis: 'This is the best gift'

Blessed babies and calls to youth

• Pope Francis calls on Catholic youth to rekindle faith, dedicate life to teachings of Jesus
• Pope Francis stops car to bless disabled child in Philadelphia
• Pope Francis greets, kisses children in wheelchairs after Philly Mass
• Pope Francis blesses cancer-stricken child on the way to Independence Mall
• 'Please say a prayer for her,' mother of baby kissed by Pope Francis asks
• Pope Francis has made the church more appealing to young people, says Bishop McDevitt student
• Pope Francis enchanted by baby girl dressed as mini pontiff

Can't-miss moments

• Corbett, Wolf both moved by pope's appearance in Philly
• Pope Francis' rainbow connection follows him to Philadelphia
• #PopeinPhilly: 9 pontiff t-shirts you can buy ... or not
• Pope Francis extols America's founding ideals during Philadelphia visit
• #PopeinPhilly: Highlights from the Festival of Families
• Gov. Tom Wolf meets Pope Francis in Philadelphia
• Pope Francis meets with sex-abuse victims, promises accountability
• Pope Francis makes unplanned stop at Saint Joseph's University
• Francis' advice to worried mothers of unmarried men: 'Don't iron his shirts anymore'
• Pope Francis is a big hit in the Big House: Paul Mulshine
• Pope sighting: A once-in-a-lifetime experience to live through twice

Crowds and security

• Sights, sounds from Philly pope security checkpoint: video
• Pope pets: Cute animals celebrate #PopeinPhilly, including Ed Rendell's dog
• Overheard in Philly: Francis in the Secret Service and pre-pope naps
• What happened to Philly's homeless while Pope Francis was in town?
• Pope Francis visit: Philadelphia's holy redemption

Scenes from Saturday

• State GOP chair wishes Pope Francis 'safe visit that's steeped in faith, hope and love'
• Cathedral Basilica in Philadelphia fills ahead of Pope Francis mass
• Celebrating a Jumbotron Mass: Scenes outside of the Cathedral Basilica
• Watch cries of 'Papa!' erupt as thousands gather to hear pope speak at Independence Hall

Sunday Mass

• Crowds converge on Philly in advance of Pope Francis parade, Mass
• Holy Sea: Crowd for papal Mass estimated at 1 million
• Outside the gates: Lines force Pope Francis pilgrims to find alternate vantage points
• What the pope said during homily at Philadelphia Mass
• 300 homemade rosaries and one million faithful: Pope's visit ends with Mass on the parkway

Pope visit affects businesses

• How much for a bottle of water? Pope Francis price hike
• Philly chef voices concern about security overkill during Pope Francis' visit
• Pope's visit turns into financial disaster for many Philly restaurants

Videos of #PopeInPhilly

• The message is the same': Jewish man attended Catholic school for the visually impaired
• 'A song for every mood': Pope Francis street musician shares his secrets
• Music wasn't only played in the Basilica for Pope Francis: Video
• Pope Francis as Rocky Balboa, and other great #PopeinPhilly Vines
• Watch: Andrea Bocelli sings moving rendition of 'The Lord's Prayer' for Pope Francis in Philadelphia
• Immigrant congregation 'happy and excited' to hear from Pope Francis
• Watch Pope Francis passing through Logan Square on the way to Mass

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Papal visit: How to get to Philly

Mass transit is the word..

• Officials warned drivers of massive congestion and very limited parking.
• NJ Transit will operate special excursion service between Atlantic City or Trenton and Philadelphia.
• Visitors can also ride the "Pope Bus" from Monmouth or Ocean to the Levittown SEPTA station.

PHILADELPHIA Before millions of people gathered around the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pope Francis will be met with a hymnal chorus of cheers, Amens and prayers.

But entering the city? The papal visit will be heralded with thousands of honking car horns, white-knuckled drivers and groans from mass transit riders packed in like sardines.

"It's certainly bigger than the Super Bowl," Department of Transportation spokesman Steve Schapiro said. "There aren't too many events of this magnitude that include this amount of road closures. It's not often a good chunk of a city is closed to vehicular traffic."

Whether it’s on foot, on the tracks or behind the wheel, New Jerseyans should plan on lengthy trips and navigating a mass of people while traveling to Philadelphia during the papal visit on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27.

Pope Francis NY, Philly traffic plans: Say a prayer

The pope will first preside over various prayer services in New York, including a Mass at Madison Square Garden that requires its own set of transportation accommodations -- namely 30,000 extra seats on NJ Transit trains.

“With crowds moving into, out of, and around New York City, NJ Transit’s regular customers should know that this will be very far from their normal commute,” NJ Transit executive director Veronique Hakim said. “Our rail and bus service to be at or near capacity during the peak periods so wait times may be lengthy.”

But unlike the New York events, all of which are ticketed, many of the pope's Philadelphia events are open to the public -- including the Mass at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Sept. 27.

Gov. Chris Christie on Friday signed an executive order authorizing use of the New Jersey National Guard if needed, in light of the expected influx of travelers.

“Travelers coming to papal events, as well as those who live and work in the surrounding areas, must plan, prepare and be patient," said Jana Tidwell, a public and government affairs manager for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "This is not the time to ‘just wing it.’ It is a time to plan ahead and prepare accordingly, similar to planning ahead of a snow storm.”

7 places to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis in the U.S.

Throughout their preparations for the papal visit, transportation officials have had one clear message to potential visitors: Take mass transit.

Riders should set the 30th Street Station as the destination. It's Philadelphia's main transit hub, located right in Center City about one mile from most public papal events.

The most direct mass transit line to the station is NJ Transit's special "excursion service" on the Atlantic City Line, an 85-minute trip from terminal to terminal. It will operate at hourly intervals on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27.

Special excursion service tickets, which cost $30 round trip, can be purchased on the NJ Transit website. Tickets are only valid for a single departure time, between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27.

"We're telling people right now to start looking into their travel plans and to buy their tickets upfront," Hakim said last week. "It's important for our customers to look at all their travel options with all our travel partners and make sure they're planning ahead."

For $5 per day, riders can also take NJ Transit’s River Line light rail, which will operate excursion service from Trenton to the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, right at the foot of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

Round trip tickets are valid for two-hour periods of departure. The line will only stop in Trenton, Bordentown, Florence, Burlington, Pennsauken and Camden.

Once in Camden, riders can transfer to the PATCO line. With a $5 daily pass, riders can travel between the Walter Rand Transportation Center and the 9th/10th Street-Locust station, about one mile from City Hall, where organizers expect the back of the papal Mass crowd to be.

PATCO tickets are still available from purchase on the authority's website.

Amtrak will also provide additional service for the papal visit, with stops at Newark Penn Station, Metropark in Edison and the Trenton Transit Center. It's about a 30-minute ride from Trenton to Philadelphia, with fares ranging from $29 to $60.

Another option: Cross the Delaware River in Mercer County and ride SEPTA's Regional Rail service from the Levittown station to 30th Street. SEPTA papal service will operate on a $10 daily pass.

Visitors who don't want to drive to Pennsylvania have a new option announced last week: The "Pope Bus," operated by transportation start-up Ryde, will transport people from more than 50 stops in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland to the nearest SEPTA station.

The Pope Bus will transport riders from park and ride locations in Howell, Lakewood, Toms River and other towns to the Levittown SEPTA station. Bus fares cost $29 and $10 round-trip SEPTA tickets can be purchased directly from the company.

"This service will keep buses in the outlying suburbs," said Andrew Ballard, a transportation consultant with the World Meeting of Families.

Papal visit: Ride the 'PopeBus', SEPTA to Philly

Don’t drive

For much of central New Jersey, the easiest way to Philadelphia has always been with a quick drive, anywhere from 45 minutes to 90 minutes.

But during the papal visit? Transportation officials are expecting more than 100,000 vehicles to travel through New Jersey en route to Philadelphia.

"Just as Bob Dylan said, 'You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,' you don’t need to be a traffic engineer to know we’re going to have traffic jams that weekend," said consulting traffic engineer Sam Schwartz.

In addition to the capacity, the main route to Philadelphia – the Benjamin Franklin Bridge – will be closed to traffic completely. That portion of Interstate 676 will serve as a massive pedestrian footbridge between Camden and Philadelphia, providing visitors with a direct three to four-hour walk to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, about five miles away.

As a result, the other roads and bridges into Philadelphia – the Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross and Commodore Barry — will likely be one massive traffic jam.

"The added traffic would be trouble on a normal day. With the Ben Franklin Bridge closed, it will be even more difficult," Schwartz said.

It’s likely that police will require additional road closures as traffic worsens, especially along entrance ramps on Interstate 295 and more eastern points of Interstate 676.

"If it looks like that situation may occur -- because of so much congestion on the smaller streets -- DOT is prepared to close some exits if necessary," Schapiro said.

Instead of driving to Philadelphia, transportation officials are recommending motorists park in South Jersey, jump on a train or walk the rest of the way.

Originally, the entire city of Camden was portioned off as a charter bus parking lot. Last week, the World Meeting of Families announced that those buses would instead be hosted in Philadelphia, opening up about 8,500 parking spots for private vehicles.

Camden parking passes can be purchased for $44 each at https://gatewaytothepope.clickandpark.com .

According to the DOT, it’s about a seven mile or four to five-hour walk for motorists who park along Route 30 in Marlton. Near Colingswood or Oaklyn, it’s about a five- to six-hour walk for nine miles.

It’s about 11 miles from Cherry Hill or Haddonfield to the papal visit, a six to seven-hour walk.

“If you cannot walk or ride a bicycle for a considerable distance back and forth, you may want to re-evaluate your attendance,” DOT commissioner Jamie Fox said in August. “We’re trying to give people an honest assessment of what to expect so we can make sure people get there and get home safely.”

Mike Davis: (732) 643-4223; [email protected]

POPE FRANCIS’ TRIP

Thursday, Sept. 24

5 p.m. - Arrive at JFK International Airport

6:45 p.m. - Evening prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Friday, Sept. 25

8:30 a.m. - United Nations General Assembly

11:30 a.m. - Multireligious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum

4 p.m. - Our Lady Queen of Angels School, East Harlem

6 p.m. - Mass at Madison Square Garden

Saturday, Sept. 26

8:40 a.m. - Departure from New York

9:30 a.m. - Arrival in Philadelphia

10:30 a.m. - Mass at Catholic Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

4:45 p.m. - Visit to Independence Mall

7:30 p.m. - Visit to Festival of Families and World Meeting of Families

Sunday, Sept. 27

9:15 a.m. - Meeting at St. Martin’s Chapel, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

11 a.m. - Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility

4 p.m. - Papal mass for World Meeting of Families

7 p.m. - Visit with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families at airport

8 p.m - Departure to Rome

The last papal visit to Philadelphia: John Paul II in 1979

(This story was first published on October 4, 1979.)

John Paul II passed quickly yesterday - too quickly to satisfy many of the assembled thousands - on his way from International Airport to the Mass he celebrated before hundreds of thousands of persons in beautifully groomed Logan Circle.  But the remainder of the day was sheer beauty as crowds estimated at between 1.2 and 2 million greeted the Pontiff, cheered his ringing, " God Bless Philadelphia" in the Cathedral-Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul and watched as he celebrated Mass.  Today was to be more of the same as the Pope was to travel in a motorcade from John Cardinal Krol's City Ave. residence to visit two churches in the city before going to Civic Center to celebrate another Mass, this one for priests, seminarians and nuns from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and surrounding dioceses. He was to leave the city at 11 a.m. for Des Moines, Iowa, next stop on his unprecedented week-long U.S. tour that began with stops in Boston and New York and is to end with visits to Chicago and Washington.  IN ALL, YESTERDAY was a sparkling day for the city, which did itself proud in its arrangements, for Catholics from a wide area who came to see the man they believe to be the Vicar of Christ and for uncounted thousands of people of other religions or no religion at all who were anxious for a close look at a world leader.  There was also a heaven-sent gift of good weather. Torrential rains during the night had changed to mere clouds during the morning and by midafternoon, before the Pope 's arrival, the day was sunny and remained so.  Aside from the chagrin in South Philadelphia, the only noticeable discontent was at Logan Circle, where a number of holders of rare silver tickets were denied their seats, apparently because of the presence of hundreds of counterfeit tickets. Despite that headache, an estimated 400,000 jammed the Circle and surrounding streets for the Mass.  And the Pope proved, as he had in Boston and New York, that he is a charmer and crowd pleaser of the first magnitude.  Ever smiling, ever waving, he personified the man set apart who makes all who see him think he is one of them.  IN HIS ADDRESS at the cathedral and in his sermon at the Logan Circle Mass, John Paul spoke the conservative, straightforward Christian doctrine he has stressed since his arrival in this country -- an urging for "the preservation of all the human and Christian values that are the heritage of this land, this country and this very city."  But if the messages were somewhat on the stern side, the Pontiff's delivery -- even in heavily accented English -- and his obvious friendliness still won him complete attention and warm response.  "I feel . . . that I am truly among friends, and I feel very much at home in your midst," he said in his cathedral address, which he ended with the exhortation, "God Bless Philadelphia."  The Pope 's arrival at the airport was slightly more than an hour behind the scheduled 2 p.m., partly because stormy weather had delayed the takeoff of his plane from New York.  And the Pontiff was still an hour or so behind schedule -- and noticeably weary -- when he left St. Charles Borromeo Seminary shortly after 10:30 p.m. for a short ride to Cardinal Krol's residence and a none-too-long sleep.  MAYOR RIZZO, HIS wife, Carmella; Gov. Thornburgh and Cardinal Krol were the principal luminaries in the crowd of several thousand on hand as the Pope 's sparkling white plane -- a TWA 727 jet dubbed Shepherd One for the occasion - -touched down at International Airport about 3:05 p.m.  Cardinal Krol, a longtime friend of the Pope and a native of the same area in Poland from which John Paul hails, boarded the plane to greet the distinguished guest and, moments later, alighted with him.  Rizzo, who appeared to snap to attention as the Pope emerged, genuflected on his right knee and bent to kiss the Pope 's ring. Mrs. Rizzo bowed over and also kissed the ring. Thornburgh shook the Pontiff's hand.  When the Pontiff appeared, a choir of 2,000 students from the Archdiocese's 309 elementary schools -- they had been chosen by classroom drawings -- sang "Long Live the Pope" as the flashily garbed bands from Cardinal O'Hara (Springfield, Delaware County) and Bishop Kenrick (Norristown) High schools supplied the music.  But the welcome's big feature was a card display by 750 Cardinal O'Hara freshmen. After a few practice runs before the Pope's arrival, they performed with snappy precision, holding up cards that spelled out, in English, "Philadelphia Welcomes His Holiness John Paul II, With Our Love," then turning them over to present the same greeting in Polish.  AFTER HIS WELCOME from the mayor and governor, the Pope shook hands with the Archdiocese's four auxiliary bishops, the Most Revs. Gerald V. McDevitt, John J. Graham, Martin N. Lohmuller and Edward Hughes.  After receiving floral bouquets from the drum majors of the two bands -- and giving them rosary beads in return -- the Pope was to have entered his open-topped limousine to begin his ride into Center City.  But he spotted a group of youngsters -- third- to sixth-graders -- from St. Cyril of Alexandria's School in East Lansdowne and headed for them, smiling and holding his arms aloft.  "He came right into our kids," one of their nuns reported. "One of our girls kissed his ring."  The girl was Margie Thompson, 11, who reported, "He said, 'God bless you.'"  JOHN EURY, ALSO 11, said he, too, had kissed the Pontiff's ring. "I shook his hand," said 10- year-old Greg Manfre.  Finally in his car, the Pope began his tour of the city. Past airport construction workers with their sign, "Hardhats Welcome Pope John Paul II," past about 2,500 watchers by a Strawbridge & Clothier's warehouse on Island Rd., past hundreds of others behind the ubiquitous yellow police barricades, the motorcade moved briskly -- as scheduled -- to Broad St.  But there, instead of slowing down, the motorcade continued at speed, past crowds that were six deep in the Oregon Ave. area and successively bigger as the Pope moved north toward City Hall. Residents, pupils from the many Catholic elementary and high schools in the district, organized groups of parishioners and the just-plain-curious caught only a fleeting glimpse of the white-robed John Paul.  In midcity, the throngs were deeply packed from curb to building line as the cars in the motorcade -- most of them provided by local funeral directors -- moved counter to the usual traffic pattern to go to the west side of City Hall and then up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway toward the cathedral.  On his arrival, the Pontiff climbed a few steps toward the cathedral's great bronze doors, thrown open for him, then turned to face toward the altar and the huge throngs that surrounded it and that filled the broad expanse of the Parkway and several smaller side streets. It was a sight no one had ever seen in Philadelphia before - a huge and utterly happy throng shouting its greeting and its joy.  INSIDE ABOUT 2,000 gold ticket holders heard Cardinal Krol welcome "our Supreme Shepherd and Pastor" and heard the Pope respond to "my brother Cardinal" and "dear brothers and sisters in Christ."  Minutes after the ceremony ended, as the vast cathedral was still emptying, the Pope emerged from the rectory at the Race St. side, where his limousine was waiting. But, in another departure from the program, the Pope spurned the car and instead turned to walk to the Parkway and the long block to the Logan Circle altar. A retinue of priests and a swarm of Secret Service men accompanied him.  Ripples of applause and cheers followed him as he moved, but none of it was thunderous, the crowd seemingly more interested in seeing the man and waving to him than in making noise.  After climbing the 57 steps to the altar level, the Pope, again departing from the script, walked around the platform's rim, his arms aloft in the now-familiar posture, his smile warm, his endurance apparently boundless. Again, cheers, but no thunder.  The Mass itself proceeded briskly, even with the Pope 's half-hour sermon. The Archdiocesan Choir, the Boy Choir, the Seminary Choir and the cathedral's Collegiate Choir provided the music, beginning with "Faith of Our Fathers" and ending with the rousing "Holy God We Praise Thy Name."  THE POPE HIMSELF was the principal celebrant of the Mass -- the Catholic recreation of the Last Supper, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. A number of priests and prelates were concelebrants and close to a hundred other clergy -- including a number of Cardinals and bishops -- sat in chairs ringing the white platform at a level below the altar.  As John Paul distributed Communion to 150 specially selected members of the Archdiocese -- a cross-section of ages, ethnic groups and economic levels -- some 3,000 priests moved into the crowd and also distributed the Sacred Host to whomever they could reach.  At the most solemn point in the Mass -- the Consecration, when Catholics believe bread and wine are transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Christ -- the huge throng was almost unbelievably quiet, the hush as deep as if they were actually inside a church.  After Mass -- and another Papal walk around the platform's rim -- the Pope was driven, still standing for most of the journey, to the Cardinal's home on City Ave. After a short stop for dinner, he was off again for the crowded day's last event, a visit to the 170 seminarians in St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.  Here, for the first time, the Pope received a European-style welcome -- wild cheers, stomping feet, unbridled enthusiasm. And the obviously delighted Pope seemed to urge on the young men to more and more cheering. Finally quieted, they heard the Pope tell them how anxious he'd been to visit an American  seminary, how grateful he was to them and how he believed in the traditional celibacy for priests.  Finally, then, he was weary and showed his fatigue as he left to return to Cardinal Krol's residence for the night.  But even as the Pope slept through the morning hours, hundreds of the faithful were congregating at two visits scheduled for early this morning.  Shortly after 3:30 a.m. today more than 400 persons were gathered before the shrine of St. John Neumann, 5th St. and Girard Ave., all with white admission tickets clutched in their hands, as they awaited the Pope's 8 a.m. visit.  At the Ukrainian Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 816 Franklin St., the white tickets were much in evidence where more than 200 persons waited to join with Pope John Paul II when he arrived to join them in prayer.

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Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia, by the numbers

PHILADELPHIA -- The pope's visit to Philadelphia, by the numbers:

- Attendance: Organizers were predicting more than 500,000 for Saturday's concert celebration and more than 1 million for Sunday's Mass, but official figures haven't been released.

- Cost: $45 million was the fundraising goal for the event's organizers at the Vatican-sponsored World Meeting of Families conference. Of that, $12 million will go to the city for policing, traffic and crowd control, fire and emergency medical response, emergency management, streets and sanitation. The state spent about $9 million in federal funding on National Guard personnel. The Secret Service didn't break out its costs. The agency's annual budget for National Special Security Events like this is $4.5 million.

- Hotel rooms: About 9,900 of downtown's 11,200 rooms were booked.

- Train ridership: 62,946 (28,575 Saturday and 34,371 Sunday) on SEPTA regional rail compared to 65,000 people heading into the city on an average weekday. The agency had sold 123,000 of 328,000 available passes; 51,922 (about 23,000 on Saturday, 29,000 on Sunday) on the PATCO High Speed Line from southern New Jersey compared to 12,000 riders on an average Saturday. PATCO sold about 17,000 of 75,000 weekend passes while also accepting regular passes.

- Subway home: 40,000 passengers rode SEPTA's Broad Street line to South Philadelphia after Sunday's Mass, compared to about 125,000 for all trips on the line on an average weekday.

- Bike sharing: More than 13,000 trips on the city's Indego service (2,900 Friday, 4,900 Saturday and 5,300 Sunday). Usual ridership over those three days of the week is about 6,000.

- No driving or parking: 25 miles of highways closed in the Philadelphia area; vehicles restricted from entering a 4.7-square mile area of the city; 591 vehicles towed out of the vehicle-free zone.

- Law enforcement and public safety: 71 local, state and federal agencies; 300 pieces of heavy equipment; more than 6,000 National Guard soldiers and thousands of Philadelphia police officers and firefighters on duty.

- Medical response: 423 cases treated at 10 first-aid stations, 129 of them resulted in hospitalization; 100 ambulances and more than 1,000 emergency medical personnel brought in; lower-than-average volume at city emergency rooms.

- Event-related arrests: 3, including "one complete idiot" who allegedly tried bringing a large bag of illegal drugs through a security checkpoint, Mayor Michael Nutter said.

- Food and drink: 69,000 meals served to first responders; 250,000 bottles of water given out to pilgrims by Philadelphia-area convenience store chain Wawa.

- Cheesesteaks eaten by Pope Francis: 0. Archbishop Chaput says the pontiff's room was stocked with other Philadelphia treats, but it's unclear if he ate them.

- Babies kissed: More than a dozen, including one dressed like Pope Francis.

Related Topics

• POPE US VISIT
• PHILLY NEWS
• POPE FRANCIS

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Pope Lets Silence Speak for Him as He Skips a Palm Sunday Speech

Pope Francis’ choice to skip the strenuous speech at the outset of Easter week immediately raised concerns about his health, but he spoke in a clear voice before and after it.

By Jason Horowitz

Reporting from Rome

As tens of thousands of faithful holding palm fronds in St. Peter’s Square looked on, the moment arrived in the Palm Sunday Mass for Pope Francis to deliver his homily in a service marking the beginning of Holy Week, one of the most demanding and significant on the Christian calendar.

“And now we hear the words of the Holy Father,” said the commentator on the Vatican’s media channel.

Instead, the crowd outside and all of those tuning in heard Francis breathing and the wind blowing over the square, as the pope, 87, decided at the last moment to forgo the homily, the sermon that is central to the service, and remain silent.

Francis’ choice to skip the strenuous speech at the outset of a week that culminates in the Easter celebration of the resurrection of Christ amounted to a highly unusual move that immediately raised concerns about the pope’s health, which is increasingly frail. In recent years, he has undergone an intestinal surgery , moved to a wheelchair and often has respiratory problems.

In recent weeks, Francis has often turned his speeches and teachings over to an aide to read aloud.

But Francis spoke in a clear voice before and after the skipped homily, celebrating the liturgy and delivering prayers, including his closeness to the victims of Friday’s terrorist attack in a Moscow suburb , and to the entire country of Ukraine, which he again called “martyred.” But given the pope’s health woes, most recently a seemingly emergency visit to a Rome hospital to check out his lungs, his silence spoke volumes.

Francis, who rarely walks now because of his bad knees, did not participate in the Macbethian procession of cardinals around the obelisk in St. Peter’s Square, and instead blessed them from the altar.

Palm Sunday is the first event in a busy week that includes his washing-of-feet ritual in a women’s prison, his presiding over a nighttime procession commemorating the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum, a nighttime Easter Vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica and the Easter Sunday Mass in the square, when the pope delivers a major blessing from the loggia overlooking the faithful.

Don Guido Colombo, a priest commentating for the Vatican’s official media channel on Sunday, immediately sought to frame the pope’s decision for a “moment of prayer and silence” as a spiritual, not physiological, necessity.

“Silence is not an absence,” he said, adding, “Silence is important.”

The Vatican did not immediately return a request for comment.

The pope’s silence, whatever its motivation, did seem to draw more attention to the words he did say.

He extended his prayers “to the victims of the vile terrorist attack carried out the other night in Moscow,” saying that he hoped the Lord would comfort and bring peace to their families and “convert the hearts of those who plan, organize and implement these unhuman acts, which offend God, who commanded, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’”

Francis also prayed for all of those suffering because of war, “especially I think of martyred Ukraine, where many people find themselves without electricity because of the intense attacks against infrastructure, which, beyond causing death and suffering, bring about the risk of a human catastrophe of even greater dimensions. Please, don’t forget martyred Ukraine! And let us think of Gaza, which suffers so much.”

At the end of the service, Francis descended to greet cardinals in his wheelchair. Far from winded, he seemed chatty and in good spirits as he shook hands and laughed with the prelates. He then got in the top of the open-backed popemobile and took a prolonged spin around the square, smiling and waving as some in the crowd shouted, “Long live the pope.”

Jason Horowitz is the Rome bureau chief for The Times, covering Italy, the Vatican, Greece and other parts of Southern Europe. More about Jason Horowitz

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The girl was transported to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children after she was shot in the leg in the parking lot of the McDonald's at Broad Street and Allegheny Avenue on Wednesday, police said.

Congress honors "Rosies" who went to work during World War II

Several "Rosies" -- named for the iconic Rosie the Riveter -- were honored with a Congressional medal Wednesday.

NEXT Weather: Strong cold front

Rain chances return with a few showers by Wednesday, Turning breezy and cooler to start the weekend. Bill Kelly has the forecast.

Shooting at Eid al-Fitr celebration in West Philadelphia leaves 3 injured, 5 suspects in custody

Roughly 1,000 people were in attendance to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in West Philly as gunfire erupted between two groups, police said. Three people were injured and five people were taken into custody.

Secrets to a long life revealed by centenarians in Lawndale senior living community

April 9 is the 100th day of 2024, and there are a number of centenarians celebrating the milestone in the Delaware Valley. So what's the secret to living that long? Nikki DeMentri has the answer from Lawndale.