What would one present a man with who has devoted his life to tackling and changing the world in which we live? How would Philadelphia welcome Pope Francis to the city?
What would one present a man with who has devoted his life to tackling and changing the world in which we live? How would Philadelphia welcome Pope Francis to the city?
After 129 votes through Facebook and Twitter, voters weighed in on what they would offer.
29 people said they would pr esent the Pope with his first taste of a Philly Cheesesteak. In second place, 20 people suggested the Pope travel down to the bottom of the Art Museum steps and pose for pictures with Rocky’s bronze statue. Tied for third place were tickets to watch the Eagles play in Lincoln Financial Stadium and a mini replica of the iconic “LOVE” statue.
Francis’s visit to the United States was his first since he was named the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic church on March 13, 2013. Born in Argentina, he became the first pope from the Americas.
His six-day trek across the United States began when he arrived at Joint Base Andrews, greeted by President Barack Obama on Tuesday, Sept. 22. From Tuesday after- noon to Thursday afternoon, he would take up residence in Washington, D.C. While there, he held Mass and led prayers. He also made the first ever address to Congress and blessed meals provided by Catholic Charities St. Maria’s Meals provided for the homeless and poor.
Thursday afternoon, the Pope arrived at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. His stay in New York would last from Thursday, Sept. 24, to Friday, Sept. 25. During his New York stay, the pope met with the United Nations General Assembly as it celebrated its 70 year anniversary. He was also in attendance of the multi-reli- gious service held at the 9/11 Memorial Museum. He led a procession through Central Park and celebrated mass in Madison Square Garden.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9:30 a.m., the pope arrived in Philadelphia at Atlantic Aviation. From there he attended mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. He then visited the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Travelling to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, he held a prayer vigil with the World Meeting of Families.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, the Pope arrived right outside Philadelphia at Wynnewood for a papal meeting with bishops at Charles Borromeo Seminary. He also made a stop at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility and attended mass with the World Meeting of Families. The pope also made a surprise visit to students on St. Joseph’s University campus. Right before his departure from Philadelphia, at Atlantic Aviation, the pope would talk with those involved with the World Meeting of Families and then return to Rome.
As Philadelphia welcomed Pope Francis with open arms and residents could only imagine being able to hand off keepsake items for him, some men were able to craft their own gift for the pope with their hands. Inmates at the Philadelphia Industrial Correction Center built a chair designed for the pope to recline in during his visit to the neighboring prison. In New York, the chair that the pope sat in during the Madison Square Garden mass was created by immigrant day laborers and the altar was built by young men at Lincoln Hall Boys Haven.
While not everyone in Philadelphia could hand off his or her own keepsakes, the city was able to gift the pope with the intangible, yet sacred memories of the city.
