One year ago today, Pope Francis celebrated mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the World Meeting of Families. While in Philadelphia, Pope Francis visited Independence Hall, gave mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, and attended the Festival of Families outside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Throughout the week leading up to the Pope’s historic visit, the roads of Philadelphia were blocked off and scores of banners, flags, and pope paraphernalia decorated the streets. The anticipation was building. Schools were out, businesses were closed, and entrances to the city were closed. Many special activities and events were planned throughout the week to celebrate Pope Francis’ arrival. Philly Happening takes a look back at some highlights of last year’s “Popeadelphia” –a truly epic week that this city won’t soon forget!
Leading up to Pope Francis’ visit, Pope Francis cutouts kept showing up in random places, like in this canoe along the bank of the Schuylkill River Trail.
The city of Philadelphia brought in thousands of portable toilets to prepare for the hundreds of thousands of people that would be flocking to the city for the papal visit.
In preparation for the papal visit, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Association for Public Art (aPA) teamed up to install Robert Indiana’s beautiful AMOR Sculpture atop the museum’s steps on the eat terrace. The AMOR statue overlooked the Ben Franklin Parkway where the Festival of Families and papal mass toook place. Indiana’s other iconic Philadelphia statue, the LOVE statue, used to sit in Philadelphia’s Love Park (currently it sits outside of City Hall while Love Park is being renovated). “Amor” translates to “love” in Pope Francis’ native Spanish and the church’s traditional Latin.
One special event leading up to the Pope’s visit was the PopeRide, a grassroots-organized bike ride making use of Philadelphia’s closed streets. The 10.23-mile bike ride was mapped out with chalk arrows on the streets. Its organizers thought maybe a handful of people would show up and instead, hundreds participated. For those that participated, it was one of the coolest things you could ever experience in Philadelphia! Imagine riding your bike down the middle of Broad Street–just you, the open road with gorgeous Philadelphia landmarks dotting your path on a perfect fall morning. Could anything be better?
Lots of restaurants and bars had Pope-inspired specials, such as this “Holy Wooder” ale, playing on the classic Philadelphia pronunciation of the water.
Ah! Another Pope cutout! Philly Happening Co-Editor, Susan Field, enjoyed a little one-on-one time with Pope Francis outside of Bru Craft & Wurst on Chestnut Street following the Pope Ride.
Another great event leading up to the Papal visit was the POPE Run, organized by local running clubs. The runners started at Philadelphia Runner on Sansom Street and ran to POPE (Pub On Passayunk East). Some runners dressed in costumes. Priests, Bishops, Nuns and Popes could be seen running along the darkening Philadelphia streets. A fun time was had by all!
With all the streets and roads into the city blocked, this was the view of 76-East from an 18th floor window of Park Towne Place apartments on the Parkway. It was eerie to see no traffic and to hear no sound from the roads–the only sounds that could be heard were the sound of security helicopters flying overhead! Later in the weekend, strains of ethereal church music and singing could be heard floating through the air.
These photos were taken during the Pope’s parade in his PopeMobile through the streets of Philly, the morning of the Papal Mass, and during the mass. The Pope was greeted by thousands of screaming–and crying–people, who were humbled and honored to catch a glimpse as he sped by in his car. The Pope appeared to be radiating light. It was truly a spiritual experience. He waved to people and reached out to those he could. People climbed on top of statues (above) and any platform that they could to get a better view of the Pope. Up close, the pope emitted such kindness and gentility. He seemed to glow from within. His presence was calming and uplifting.
The morning of the mass, the lines to get into the gated area on the Parkway stretched all the way from the Parkway to Market Street. When the Pope gave mass later that afternoon, it was in his native language and televised live on national TV. It was a majestic and beautiful experience for anyone who could hear the sounds of the orchestra, choir, and the religious offerings of the mass.
The Pope’s visit was something that most in this city have never seen and will never see again. Such a special weekend that is worth remembering today, on the one-year anniversary. The memories will be celebrated and cherished for years to come!
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