- Pope Francis arrived in Philadelphia Saturday morning and will spend two days there on the last leg of his US tour
- The trip comes after spending two days in both Washington, DC, and New York
- The pope will be the star attraction at the World Meeting of Families, a conference for more than 18,000 people from around the world
- He will speak at Independence Hall and give an outdoor Mass to a million people on Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- The pope is expected to talk privately with abuse victims over the weekend, as Philadelphia is facing one of the worst clergy sex-abuse scandals to hit a U.S. diocese
Pope Francis touched down in Philadelphia this morning to attend a string of high-profile events with the suggestion that he might tackle one of the nation's worst clergy sex-abuse scandals.
He kicked off the last two days of his his six-day US tour with a stop at the Philadelphia's main cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul, where he celebrated Mass in front of 1,600 people. Pope John Paul II spoke at the same cathedral in 1979, the only other papal visit to Philadelphia.
'I would like to think, though, that the history of the church in this city and state is really a story not about building walls, but about breaking them down," Francis said during the Mass. 'It is a story about generation after generation of committed Catholics going out to the peripheries, and building communities of worship, education, charity and service to the larger society.'
After the Mass, Archbishop Charles Chaput said Philadelphia 'is a city that would change its name to Francisville', if it could.
Pope Francis stopped to bless children in wheelchairs before leaving the cathedral in downtown Philadelphia.
Francis walked through a chapel adjacent to the main room in the cathedral on Saturday to greet ill and disabled parishioners, along with other visitors. He blessed the children and gave them a kiss on the head.
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Pope Francis kisses and blesses Michael Keating, ten, of Elverson, Pennsylvania, after arriving in Philadelphia and exiting his car when he saw the boy
A woman cries as Pope Francis blesses her disabled son upon arrival in Philadelphia
Pope Francis stops to meet and bless people after arriving at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia
Pope Francis waves as he arrives for a mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
The pope began his Philadelphia trip with a Mass and will end it with another mass - one that will be outdoors in front of a million people
Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, second from left, and his wife Susan greet Pope Francis as he arrives for a mass
In Philadelphia, the pope was greeted at the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul by former Pennsylvania Gov Tom Corbett and his wife. Corbett originally invited Francis to Philadelphia.
While delivering a homily in Spanish during mass at the city's main cathedral, he said that the future of the church depends on an increased role for the laity and on valuing the 'immense contribution' of women.
Francis has repeatedly said women should have a greater role in church leadership, although he has rejected the idea of ordaining women. By touching on the issue, Francis seemed intent on healing one of the major rifts in American Catholicism that has alienated many from the church.
The former Archbishop of Philadelphia who retired in 2011 amid a scandal over clergy sex abuse was seen at the cathedral celebrating Mass with Pope Francis.
Cardinal Justin Rigali joined Francis and other bishops at the Mass on Saturday on the pope's first stop in Philadelphia. Rigali's successor, Chaput, also was on the altar.
Rigali retired to the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee, months after a grand jury accused the Philadelphia archdiocese of sheltering more than three dozen credibly accused priests and lying about it to victims and others.
Fifty members of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas were on hand at the Mass to hear Pope Francis call for the church to value the contribution of women.
Pope Francis blesses a girl in a wheelchair after celebrating Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Francis walked through a chapel adjacent to the main room in the cathedral on Saturday to greet ill and disabled parishioners, along with other visitors. He blessed the children and gave them a kiss on the head.
Francis greeted visitors as he walked through a chapel adjacent to the main room in Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul
Nuns embrace each other during the greeting of peace as part of the papal mass attended by Pope Francis at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Francis will spend some time resting at the St Charles Borromeo Seminary in Lower Merion before giving a speech on religious freedom and immigration in front of Independence Hall
Francis was serenaded by a group of about 150 seminarians after arriving at the suburban seminary where he will stay while visiting Philadelphia
Francis settled a controversy in April over a three-year Vatican investigation into the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which the sisters are part of. The umbrella group for women's religious orders had been accused of straying from church teaching.
Francis' progressive agenda parallels their views on helping the poor and immigrants, preserving life and ending the death penalty.
Sister Catherine Darcy, of Merion, Pennsylvania, says this is a special moment for the Catholic church and that they have felt strong support from Francis.
Francis will spend a few hours at St Charles Borromeo Seminary just outside of the city before giving a speech on Saturday afternoon at Independence Hall on religious freedom and immigration.
When he first arrived at the seminary, where he will stay for his Philadelphia trip, about 150 seminarians serenaded him.
Pope Francis will be the star attraction at the World Meeting of Families, a conference for more than 18,000 people from around the world that has been underway as the pope traveled to Washington and New York.
Pope Francis time in Philadelphia will embark on the segment of his American journey expected to be the most centered on ordinary Catholics: a Vatican-organized rally for the family that will culminate in an outdoor Mass for a million people.
Several spectators and members of the clergy took photos with their phones as Francis arrived at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Francis walked down the aisle of the church holding a large staff with a crucifix on top while a choir sang
Clergymen watch as Pope Francis walks during the procession before the start of mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on Saturday
Spectators smiled and took pictures as Pope Francis arrived at Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul for a Mass
Pope Francis, center, walks though a great crowd of people toward the altar at Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul to start a mass,
Pope Francis is the second pope to visit Philadelphia. Pope John Paul II spoke at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in 1979
Pope Francis celebrates mass at Philadelphia's main Catholic cathedral in front of approximately 1,600 people
Pope Francis addresses parishioners during mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
After celebrating mass at Philadelphia's main Catholic cathedral, the pope will give a speech at Independence Hall and then join in the final night of the World Meeting of Families
Nuns watch as Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Saturday
And as he departed from New York on Saturday morning, the wind was strong and the pope took a tumble on the stairs as he boarded his plane, but he was all smiles just moments later as he waved goodbye to the crowd.
Once on the plane, the pope asked to circle the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on his way out of Manhattan, becoming visibly moved as the helicopter carried him over the sights that greeted millions of immigrants to America.
In every city, Francis has been greeted by throngs of cheering, weeping well-wishers, hoping for a glance or a touch from the wildly popular spiritual leader. Philadelphia as been no different thus far.
When the pope arrived in Philadelphia, he kissed the forehead of a boy with cerebral palsy, coaxing a small smile from the severely disabled ten-year-old.
Francis apparently spied Michael Keating as he was being driven away from the plane. Ordering the Fiat to stop, Francis got out and walked over to the boy, put his hand on his head and kissed him as his sobbing mother looked on.
Kristin Keating thanked the pope, who grasped her hand. Francis also shook the hand of Keating's husband, Chuck Keating, the band director at Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown. The band serenaded Francis as he arrived in Philadelphia for the last leg of his six-day visit to the United States.
Crowds looking to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis gather along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway after he concluded Mass across the street at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Spectators gather at barricades in hopes of catching a glimpse of Pope Francis
Crowds gather on Independence Mall in Philadelphia prior to Pope Francis' speech, where he will discuss immigration and the environment
People at Independence Hall watch a video feed of Pope Francis celebrating mass at Philadelphia's main Catholic cathedral on Saturday
People claim their spots in the morning on Independence Mall to see Pope Francis speak later in the afternoon in Philadelphia
People watch a video feed of Pope Francis arriving in Pennsylvania while waiting at Independence Hall on Saturday
People gather while waiting for Pope Francis at Independence Hall. Many wore shirts and carried posters that held messages for the Pope
Catholic nuns and other worshippers pray on Independence Mall in Philadelphia as they watch a television feed of Pope Francis celebrating a mass nearby at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
A sister with the Missionaries of Charity, left, prays in the crowd gathered at Independence Mall in Philadelphia
People watch a video feed of Pope Francis arriving in Pennsylvania while waiting at Independence Hall
'It was an unbelievable feeling,' Kristin Keating said of the papal encounter, adding she felt 'totally blessed and loved' by the pope.
Her son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at six months old. He also has a profound intellectual disability as well as vision and hearing problems and cannot do anything for himself, communicating through various moans and cries.
Michael, who got up 2.15am. for the trip to Philadelphia, had been agitated off and on throughout the morning, but he seemed to calm in the pope's presence.
'When the pope took his hand off him, he had a bit smile on his face. To me, in that moment, he must have felt that blessing,' said Keating, a fourth-grade teacher from Elverson.
'For us, it was beautiful," she added. "For us, it meant something.'
The unprecedented security for the anticipated crowds in Philadelphia has been so heavy that organizers of the visit worried people would be scared away.
'He has a magnetic personality that not only appeals to Catholics, but to the universal masses. He's not scripted. He's relatable,' Filipina Opena, 46, a Catholic from LaMirada, California, said. 'His heart, in itself, you can see that reflected through his message.'
A woman holds an icon as she watches Pope Francis celebrate Mass on a large video monitor as people await the arrival of the pope at Independence Hall
Joe Stemrich of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, wears a Papal Mitre as the talks with from left, Sister Lorriane Doiron, Sister Christine Quense , and Sister Ellen Kraft all of Sister of Jesus Our Hope in Bloomsbury, New Jersey, as they gather on Independence Mall
Joe Stemrich of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, wearing a Papal Mitre and hold a the flag of Vatican City, talks with Claudio Mora of Dallas, Texas, on Independence Mall
People claim their spots in the morning on Independence Mall to see Pope Francis speak later in the afternoon. Some people slept in their spots overnight in hopes of getting a glimpse of the pope
A crowd hold up 'Pope Emoji' signs while they wait for Pope Francis to arrive at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
People arrive to Independence Mall ahead of Pope Francis' speech outside Independence Hall on Saturday
Dominican Sisters from Nashville, Tennessee, talk in view of City Hall ahead of the Festival of Families on Saturday
'People feel he's sincere and he's genuine. The more people hear him, the more they see him, they all understand and realize it,' Opena added, as tour groups and families walked among Philadelphia's historic sites, taking pictures ahead of the pope's visit.
Barricades lining the streets, however, have been overwhelmed with crowds already as some people slept overnight on the sidewalk in hopes of getting a front-row spot to catch a glimpse of the pope.
An Argentine on the first US visit of his life, Francis will be given a stage steeped in American history on Saturday.
He will speak at Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and will do so from a lectern used for the Gettysburg Address, another nod to Abraham Lincoln, one of the four Americans the pope cited as inspirations in his address to Congress.
As he has done in New York and Washington, he will give his attention to both the elite and the disadvantaged, this time visiting inmates in Philadelphia's largest jail.
On Saturday night, on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the cultural heart of the city, he will be serenaded by Aretha Franklin and other performers at a festival celebrating families, and will return there Sunday for the Mass, his last major event before leaving that night for Rome.
'It's probably not politicians who will remember his message but the kids,' said Liza Stephens, 48, of Sacramento, California, who was in Philadelphia with her two daughters, ages ten and 12. The trio spent time volunteering to bag food for Africa, among other activities at the family conference.
Pope Francis flew from New York City to Philadelphia on Monday, where he will be greeted by a police officer who was shot in the line of duty
Pope Francis steps out into windy Philadelphia to begin the events of his final stop of his six-day US tour
Pope Francis is greeted by Philadelphia Police as he arrives in the city for a two-day stay
The pope is greeted by clergymen and others as he arrived in Philadelphia on Saturday morning
The pope will be the star attraction at the World Meeting of Families, a conference for more than 18,000 people from around the world that has been underway as the pope traveled to Washington and New York
Pope Francis waves from inside his car after arriving at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia
The pope waved as he headed from the airport to his first event in Philadelphia in a black Fiat
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia organized the conference, hoping for a badly needed infusion of papal joy and enthusiasm amid shrinking membership, financial troubles and a massive sex-abuse scandal.
The archdiocese has been the target of three grand jury investigations.
The last grand jury accused the diocese in 2011, before Chaput came to Philadelphia, of keeping on assignment more than three dozen priests facing serious abuse accusations, despite a 2002 pledge by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to oust any guilty clergy.
The same grand jury indicted a priest who had overseen clergy for the archdiocese, Monsignor William Lynn.
He was eventually convicted of child endangerment, becoming the first American church official convicted for failing to stop abusers.
The pope is widely expected to talk privately with abuse victims over this weekend, an event that church leaders said would not be announced until after it occurred.
This potential discussion comes after speeches to Congress and the United Nations, aimed squarely at spurring world leaders toward bold action on immigration and the environment.
Pope Francis was greeted by members of the military, members of the clergy and others as he arrives at John F Kennedy International Airport
As a parting gift, the pope was given a beautiful bouquet of flowers before he boarded his airplane
The pope took an unfortunate tumble as he walked up the steps to board a plane heading to Philadelphia
Officials at the top of the staircase watched as Pope Francis took a misstep on the stairs to the plane
Pope Francis composed himself after the fall and smiled as he waved to the crowd before heading into the plane
Helicopters take off in front of Pope Francis's airplane prior to his departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday as the pope heads to Philadelphia
Pope Francis took a private helicopter to John F Kennedy International Airport before boarding a plane for Philadelphia
The pope's helicopter was escorted by a second aircraft as he traveled to the airport before departing New York
People cheer at John F. Kennedy International Airport to bid farewell to Pope Francis as he prepares to board his plane on Saturday
Escorted by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, right, Pope Francis is greeted by nuns from the Monastery of the Precious Blood in Brooklyn before he departs New York City
Pope Francis was welcomed at the airport on Saturday morning by Chaput along retired Philadelphia police officer Richard Bowes, who was shot in the line of duty, Bowes’ wife and their three children.
The family was nominated for the honor by Monsignor Joseph Garvin, their pastor at St Christopher Parish in northeast Philadelphia, according to USA Today.
‘Who thinks you are going to meet the pope, that you are going to be close enough to touch him?’ Bowes said before the pope’s arrival. ‘It’s unbelievable.’
He added: ‘We're upset that we're not worthy enough to be in his presence... There must be a reason, but we don't know what that is. We'll just try to share it with as many people as we can.’
The retired cop said that his son Matthew called the event ‘Christmas and Thanksgiving and Easter all rolled up into one’.
Bowes said he will ask the pope for 'his blessing for world peace and for all of the police and firemen and military. Everybody needs that right now.'
The visit is also shaping up as one of the most interesting ecclesial pairings of the pope's trip.
His host will be Chaput, an outspoken opponent of abortion and gay marriage, who takes a harder line on church teaching in the archdiocese.
Chaput has said a local Catholic school run by nuns showed 'character and common sense' by firing a teacher in June who married another woman.
He recently wrote in the archdiocese newspaper that abortion is 'a uniquely wicked act' that cannot be seen as one sin among many.
Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary take photos outside the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peters and Paul, ahead of Pope Francis's papal mass on Saturday in Philadelphia
A group of nuns talk as a member of the Pennsylvania State Police stands guard outside of the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Clergy process into the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, ahead of the papal mass this morning in Philadelphia
Clergy confer in the sanctuary of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peters and Paul, ahead of Pope Francis's papal mass this morning
A nun hangs a prayer along with thousands of other handwritten prayers outside Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul before the arrival of Pope Francis
Members of the choir arrive at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia prior to the arrival of Pope Francis on Saturday
A member of the choir (R) fans her face from the heat inside the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peters and Paul, ahead of Pope Francis's papal mass this morning in Philadelphia
Three days ago, in an address to US bishops laying out his vision for American Catholicism, Francis said attention should be paid to the 'innocent victim of abortion' but listed the issue as one among many 'essential' to the church's mission, including caring for the elderly and the environment.
Chaput has rejected the idea that he is in conflict with the social justice-minded pope, calling it a narrative invented by the media, and pointing to the millions of dollars the archdiocese spends each year to aid the poor and sick. The pope will be staying at the seminary where Chaput also lives.
'Critics sometimes claim that America's bishops talk too much about abortion and religious freedom while they overlook the poor,' Chaput said in recent remarks to reporters.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Catholics plan to hold separate events, including an event for gay parents and their children, on Saturday, as they advocate for broader acceptance in the church.
Francis has famously said 'Who am I to judge?' when asked about a supposedly gay priest, but has also affirmed church teaching on marriage.
Mary McGuiness, a religion professor at La Salle University, a Catholic school in Philadelphia, said she doesn't anticipate a flood of local Catholics returning to Sunday Mass because of the pope's visit.
She said the archdiocese has been through too much with abuse scandals and parish closures. But she said the intense attention to his speeches here could inspire people to 'begin to think more about what Catholicism really means.'
'I hope that will happen,' she said. 'But I hear a lot of people say, "I like this pope, but I'm not going back".'
He added: 'Of course we do talk about those issues. We work hard at those issues, and we'll continue to do so - vigorously, and for as long as it takes. Because the right to life and religious liberty are foundational to human dignity.'
The pope is expected to talk about religious freedom at Independence Hall and is expected to bring his message of compassion, hope and strengthening the family to his appearances in the city.
People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Some spectators slept overnight in Philadelphia to reserve spots near a barricade in hopes of catching a glimpse of the pope
Nuns sit in a row of empty chairs as they wait for Pope Francis at Independence Hall on Saturday in Philadelphia
Carmen Rodriguez, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, sleeps on the ground while waiting for Pope Francis along Benjamin Franklin Parkway ahead of his visit on Saturday
Chairs are set up in front of Independence Hall before the arrival of Pope Francis where he is expected to speak from the lectern used by President Abraham Lincoln during the Gettysburg Address
Nuns prepare to take their seats before the arrival of Pope Francis in front of Independence Hall on Saturday
An event worker walks through the seating area before the Festival of Families, where Pope Francis will give an outdoor Mass to a million people on Sunday
A nun creates a sign ahead of Pope Francis' appearance at the Festival of Families on Saturday
Pope Francis touched down in Philadelphia this morning to attend a string of high-profile events with the suggestion that he might tackle one of the nation's worst clergy sex-abuse scandals.
He kicked off the last two days of his his six-day US tour with a stop at the Philadelphia's main cathedral, the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul, where he celebrated Mass in front of 1,600 people. Pope John Paul II spoke at the same cathedral in 1979, the only other papal visit to Philadelphia.
'I would like to think, though, that the history of the church in this city and state is really a story not about building walls, but about breaking them down," Francis said during the Mass. 'It is a story about generation after generation of committed Catholics going out to the peripheries, and building communities of worship, education, charity and service to the larger society.'
After the Mass, Archbishop Charles Chaput said Philadelphia 'is a city that would change its name to Francisville', if it could.
Pope Francis stopped to bless children in wheelchairs before leaving the cathedral in downtown Philadelphia.
Francis walked through a chapel adjacent to the main room in the cathedral on Saturday to greet ill and disabled parishioners, along with other visitors. He blessed the children and gave them a kiss on the head.
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Pope Francis kisses and blesses Michael Keating, ten, of Elverson, Pennsylvania, after arriving in Philadelphia and exiting his car when he saw the boy
A woman cries as Pope Francis blesses her disabled son upon arrival in Philadelphia
Pope Francis stops to meet and bless people after arriving at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia
Pope Francis waves as he arrives for a mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
The pope began his Philadelphia trip with a Mass and will end it with another mass - one that will be outdoors in front of a million people
Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, second from left, and his wife Susan greet Pope Francis as he arrives for a mass
In Philadelphia, the pope was greeted at the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul by former Pennsylvania Gov Tom Corbett and his wife. Corbett originally invited Francis to Philadelphia.
While delivering a homily in Spanish during mass at the city's main cathedral, he said that the future of the church depends on an increased role for the laity and on valuing the 'immense contribution' of women.
Francis has repeatedly said women should have a greater role in church leadership, although he has rejected the idea of ordaining women. By touching on the issue, Francis seemed intent on healing one of the major rifts in American Catholicism that has alienated many from the church.
The former Archbishop of Philadelphia who retired in 2011 amid a scandal over clergy sex abuse was seen at the cathedral celebrating Mass with Pope Francis.
Cardinal Justin Rigali joined Francis and other bishops at the Mass on Saturday on the pope's first stop in Philadelphia. Rigali's successor, Chaput, also was on the altar.
Rigali retired to the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee, months after a grand jury accused the Philadelphia archdiocese of sheltering more than three dozen credibly accused priests and lying about it to victims and others.
Fifty members of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas were on hand at the Mass to hear Pope Francis call for the church to value the contribution of women.
Pope Francis blesses a girl in a wheelchair after celebrating Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Francis walked through a chapel adjacent to the main room in the cathedral on Saturday to greet ill and disabled parishioners, along with other visitors. He blessed the children and gave them a kiss on the head.
Francis greeted visitors as he walked through a chapel adjacent to the main room in Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul
Nuns embrace each other during the greeting of peace as part of the papal mass attended by Pope Francis at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Francis will spend some time resting at the St Charles Borromeo Seminary in Lower Merion before giving a speech on religious freedom and immigration in front of Independence Hall
Francis was serenaded by a group of about 150 seminarians after arriving at the suburban seminary where he will stay while visiting Philadelphia
Francis settled a controversy in April over a three-year Vatican investigation into the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which the sisters are part of. The umbrella group for women's religious orders had been accused of straying from church teaching.
Francis' progressive agenda parallels their views on helping the poor and immigrants, preserving life and ending the death penalty.
Sister Catherine Darcy, of Merion, Pennsylvania, says this is a special moment for the Catholic church and that they have felt strong support from Francis.
Francis will spend a few hours at St Charles Borromeo Seminary just outside of the city before giving a speech on Saturday afternoon at Independence Hall on religious freedom and immigration.
When he first arrived at the seminary, where he will stay for his Philadelphia trip, about 150 seminarians serenaded him.
Pope Francis will be the star attraction at the World Meeting of Families, a conference for more than 18,000 people from around the world that has been underway as the pope traveled to Washington and New York.
Pope Francis time in Philadelphia will embark on the segment of his American journey expected to be the most centered on ordinary Catholics: a Vatican-organized rally for the family that will culminate in an outdoor Mass for a million people.
Several spectators and members of the clergy took photos with their phones as Francis arrived at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Francis walked down the aisle of the church holding a large staff with a crucifix on top while a choir sang
Clergymen watch as Pope Francis walks during the procession before the start of mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on Saturday
Spectators smiled and took pictures as Pope Francis arrived at Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul for a Mass
Pope Francis, center, walks though a great crowd of people toward the altar at Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul to start a mass,
Pope Francis is the second pope to visit Philadelphia. Pope John Paul II spoke at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in 1979
Pope Francis celebrates mass at Philadelphia's main Catholic cathedral in front of approximately 1,600 people
Pope Francis addresses parishioners during mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
After celebrating mass at Philadelphia's main Catholic cathedral, the pope will give a speech at Independence Hall and then join in the final night of the World Meeting of Families
Nuns watch as Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Saturday
And as he departed from New York on Saturday morning, the wind was strong and the pope took a tumble on the stairs as he boarded his plane, but he was all smiles just moments later as he waved goodbye to the crowd.
Once on the plane, the pope asked to circle the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on his way out of Manhattan, becoming visibly moved as the helicopter carried him over the sights that greeted millions of immigrants to America.
In every city, Francis has been greeted by throngs of cheering, weeping well-wishers, hoping for a glance or a touch from the wildly popular spiritual leader. Philadelphia as been no different thus far.
When the pope arrived in Philadelphia, he kissed the forehead of a boy with cerebral palsy, coaxing a small smile from the severely disabled ten-year-old.
Francis apparently spied Michael Keating as he was being driven away from the plane. Ordering the Fiat to stop, Francis got out and walked over to the boy, put his hand on his head and kissed him as his sobbing mother looked on.
Kristin Keating thanked the pope, who grasped her hand. Francis also shook the hand of Keating's husband, Chuck Keating, the band director at Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown. The band serenaded Francis as he arrived in Philadelphia for the last leg of his six-day visit to the United States.
Crowds looking to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis gather along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway after he concluded Mass across the street at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Spectators gather at barricades in hopes of catching a glimpse of Pope Francis
Crowds gather on Independence Mall in Philadelphia prior to Pope Francis' speech, where he will discuss immigration and the environment
People at Independence Hall watch a video feed of Pope Francis celebrating mass at Philadelphia's main Catholic cathedral on Saturday
People claim their spots in the morning on Independence Mall to see Pope Francis speak later in the afternoon in Philadelphia
People watch a video feed of Pope Francis arriving in Pennsylvania while waiting at Independence Hall on Saturday
People gather while waiting for Pope Francis at Independence Hall. Many wore shirts and carried posters that held messages for the Pope
Catholic nuns and other worshippers pray on Independence Mall in Philadelphia as they watch a television feed of Pope Francis celebrating a mass nearby at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
A sister with the Missionaries of Charity, left, prays in the crowd gathered at Independence Mall in Philadelphia
People watch a video feed of Pope Francis arriving in Pennsylvania while waiting at Independence Hall
'It was an unbelievable feeling,' Kristin Keating said of the papal encounter, adding she felt 'totally blessed and loved' by the pope.
Her son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at six months old. He also has a profound intellectual disability as well as vision and hearing problems and cannot do anything for himself, communicating through various moans and cries.
Michael, who got up 2.15am. for the trip to Philadelphia, had been agitated off and on throughout the morning, but he seemed to calm in the pope's presence.
'When the pope took his hand off him, he had a bit smile on his face. To me, in that moment, he must have felt that blessing,' said Keating, a fourth-grade teacher from Elverson.
'For us, it was beautiful," she added. "For us, it meant something.'
The unprecedented security for the anticipated crowds in Philadelphia has been so heavy that organizers of the visit worried people would be scared away.
'He has a magnetic personality that not only appeals to Catholics, but to the universal masses. He's not scripted. He's relatable,' Filipina Opena, 46, a Catholic from LaMirada, California, said. 'His heart, in itself, you can see that reflected through his message.'
A woman holds an icon as she watches Pope Francis celebrate Mass on a large video monitor as people await the arrival of the pope at Independence Hall
Joe Stemrich of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, wears a Papal Mitre as the talks with from left, Sister Lorriane Doiron, Sister Christine Quense , and Sister Ellen Kraft all of Sister of Jesus Our Hope in Bloomsbury, New Jersey, as they gather on Independence Mall
Joe Stemrich of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, wearing a Papal Mitre and hold a the flag of Vatican City, talks with Claudio Mora of Dallas, Texas, on Independence Mall
People claim their spots in the morning on Independence Mall to see Pope Francis speak later in the afternoon. Some people slept in their spots overnight in hopes of getting a glimpse of the pope
A crowd hold up 'Pope Emoji' signs while they wait for Pope Francis to arrive at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
People arrive to Independence Mall ahead of Pope Francis' speech outside Independence Hall on Saturday
Dominican Sisters from Nashville, Tennessee, talk in view of City Hall ahead of the Festival of Families on Saturday
'People feel he's sincere and he's genuine. The more people hear him, the more they see him, they all understand and realize it,' Opena added, as tour groups and families walked among Philadelphia's historic sites, taking pictures ahead of the pope's visit.
Barricades lining the streets, however, have been overwhelmed with crowds already as some people slept overnight on the sidewalk in hopes of getting a front-row spot to catch a glimpse of the pope.
An Argentine on the first US visit of his life, Francis will be given a stage steeped in American history on Saturday.
He will speak at Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and will do so from a lectern used for the Gettysburg Address, another nod to Abraham Lincoln, one of the four Americans the pope cited as inspirations in his address to Congress.
As he has done in New York and Washington, he will give his attention to both the elite and the disadvantaged, this time visiting inmates in Philadelphia's largest jail.
On Saturday night, on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the cultural heart of the city, he will be serenaded by Aretha Franklin and other performers at a festival celebrating families, and will return there Sunday for the Mass, his last major event before leaving that night for Rome.
'It's probably not politicians who will remember his message but the kids,' said Liza Stephens, 48, of Sacramento, California, who was in Philadelphia with her two daughters, ages ten and 12. The trio spent time volunteering to bag food for Africa, among other activities at the family conference.
Pope Francis flew from New York City to Philadelphia on Monday, where he will be greeted by a police officer who was shot in the line of duty
Pope Francis steps out into windy Philadelphia to begin the events of his final stop of his six-day US tour
Pope Francis is greeted by Philadelphia Police as he arrives in the city for a two-day stay
The pope is greeted by clergymen and others as he arrived in Philadelphia on Saturday morning
The pope will be the star attraction at the World Meeting of Families, a conference for more than 18,000 people from around the world that has been underway as the pope traveled to Washington and New York
Pope Francis waves from inside his car after arriving at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia
The pope waved as he headed from the airport to his first event in Philadelphia in a black Fiat
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia organized the conference, hoping for a badly needed infusion of papal joy and enthusiasm amid shrinking membership, financial troubles and a massive sex-abuse scandal.
The archdiocese has been the target of three grand jury investigations.
The last grand jury accused the diocese in 2011, before Chaput came to Philadelphia, of keeping on assignment more than three dozen priests facing serious abuse accusations, despite a 2002 pledge by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to oust any guilty clergy.
The same grand jury indicted a priest who had overseen clergy for the archdiocese, Monsignor William Lynn.
He was eventually convicted of child endangerment, becoming the first American church official convicted for failing to stop abusers.
The pope is widely expected to talk privately with abuse victims over this weekend, an event that church leaders said would not be announced until after it occurred.
This potential discussion comes after speeches to Congress and the United Nations, aimed squarely at spurring world leaders toward bold action on immigration and the environment.
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Pope Francis was greeted by members of the military, members of the clergy and others as he arrives at John F Kennedy International Airport
As a parting gift, the pope was given a beautiful bouquet of flowers before he boarded his airplane
The pope took an unfortunate tumble as he walked up the steps to board a plane heading to Philadelphia
Officials at the top of the staircase watched as Pope Francis took a misstep on the stairs to the plane
Pope Francis composed himself after the fall and smiled as he waved to the crowd before heading into the plane
Helicopters take off in front of Pope Francis's airplane prior to his departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday as the pope heads to Philadelphia
Pope Francis took a private helicopter to John F Kennedy International Airport before boarding a plane for Philadelphia
The pope's helicopter was escorted by a second aircraft as he traveled to the airport before departing New York
People cheer at John F. Kennedy International Airport to bid farewell to Pope Francis as he prepares to board his plane on Saturday
Escorted by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, right, Pope Francis is greeted by nuns from the Monastery of the Precious Blood in Brooklyn before he departs New York City
Pope Francis was welcomed at the airport on Saturday morning by Chaput along retired Philadelphia police officer Richard Bowes, who was shot in the line of duty, Bowes’ wife and their three children.
The family was nominated for the honor by Monsignor Joseph Garvin, their pastor at St Christopher Parish in northeast Philadelphia, according to USA Today.
‘Who thinks you are going to meet the pope, that you are going to be close enough to touch him?’ Bowes said before the pope’s arrival. ‘It’s unbelievable.’
He added: ‘We're upset that we're not worthy enough to be in his presence... There must be a reason, but we don't know what that is. We'll just try to share it with as many people as we can.’
The retired cop said that his son Matthew called the event ‘Christmas and Thanksgiving and Easter all rolled up into one’.
Bowes said he will ask the pope for 'his blessing for world peace and for all of the police and firemen and military. Everybody needs that right now.'
The visit is also shaping up as one of the most interesting ecclesial pairings of the pope's trip.
His host will be Chaput, an outspoken opponent of abortion and gay marriage, who takes a harder line on church teaching in the archdiocese.
Chaput has said a local Catholic school run by nuns showed 'character and common sense' by firing a teacher in June who married another woman.
He recently wrote in the archdiocese newspaper that abortion is 'a uniquely wicked act' that cannot be seen as one sin among many.
Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary take photos outside the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peters and Paul, ahead of Pope Francis's papal mass on Saturday in Philadelphia
A group of nuns talk as a member of the Pennsylvania State Police stands guard outside of the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Clergy process into the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, ahead of the papal mass this morning in Philadelphia
Clergy confer in the sanctuary of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peters and Paul, ahead of Pope Francis's papal mass this morning
A nun hangs a prayer along with thousands of other handwritten prayers outside Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul before the arrival of Pope Francis
Members of the choir arrive at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia prior to the arrival of Pope Francis on Saturday
A member of the choir (R) fans her face from the heat inside the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peters and Paul, ahead of Pope Francis's papal mass this morning in Philadelphia
Three days ago, in an address to US bishops laying out his vision for American Catholicism, Francis said attention should be paid to the 'innocent victim of abortion' but listed the issue as one among many 'essential' to the church's mission, including caring for the elderly and the environment.
Chaput has rejected the idea that he is in conflict with the social justice-minded pope, calling it a narrative invented by the media, and pointing to the millions of dollars the archdiocese spends each year to aid the poor and sick. The pope will be staying at the seminary where Chaput also lives.
'Critics sometimes claim that America's bishops talk too much about abortion and religious freedom while they overlook the poor,' Chaput said in recent remarks to reporters.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Catholics plan to hold separate events, including an event for gay parents and their children, on Saturday, as they advocate for broader acceptance in the church.
Francis has famously said 'Who am I to judge?' when asked about a supposedly gay priest, but has also affirmed church teaching on marriage.
Mary McGuiness, a religion professor at La Salle University, a Catholic school in Philadelphia, said she doesn't anticipate a flood of local Catholics returning to Sunday Mass because of the pope's visit.
She said the archdiocese has been through too much with abuse scandals and parish closures. But she said the intense attention to his speeches here could inspire people to 'begin to think more about what Catholicism really means.'
'I hope that will happen,' she said. 'But I hear a lot of people say, "I like this pope, but I'm not going back".'
He added: 'Of course we do talk about those issues. We work hard at those issues, and we'll continue to do so - vigorously, and for as long as it takes. Because the right to life and religious liberty are foundational to human dignity.'
The pope is expected to talk about religious freedom at Independence Hall and is expected to bring his message of compassion, hope and strengthening the family to his appearances in the city.
People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia
Some spectators slept overnight in Philadelphia to reserve spots near a barricade in hopes of catching a glimpse of the pope
Nuns sit in a row of empty chairs as they wait for Pope Francis at Independence Hall on Saturday in Philadelphia
Carmen Rodriguez, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, sleeps on the ground while waiting for Pope Francis along Benjamin Franklin Parkway ahead of his visit on Saturday
Chairs are set up in front of Independence Hall before the arrival of Pope Francis where he is expected to speak from the lectern used by President Abraham Lincoln during the Gettysburg Address
Nuns prepare to take their seats before the arrival of Pope Francis in front of Independence Hall on Saturday
An event worker walks through the seating area before the Festival of Families, where Pope Francis will give an outdoor Mass to a million people on Sunday
A nun creates a sign ahead of Pope Francis' appearance at the Festival of Families on Saturday
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