Philadelphia Catholics eager to enjoy family, papal events next year
PHILADELPHIA — Perhaps it should be expected, but worshippers at the noon Mass Nov. 17 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul were universally enthusiastic as they reacted to the news that Pope Francis has confirmed he will visit Philadelphia next September.
A view of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is seen from the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art looking toward City Hall in Philadelphia Nov. 17. Pope Francis confirmed he will attend the 2015 World Meeting of Families. The weeklong event in Philadelphia will end with a papal Mass on the city’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway and is expected to draw over 1 million worshipers. (CNS photo/ Tom Mihalek, Reuters)
Because his visit caps the 2015 World Meeting of Families, “it’s an opportunity for teenagers and young people to see him,” said Suzana Melo, who was visiting from South America.
“I can’t be there because I’m leaving for Brazil tomorrow,” she told Catholic Philly.com, the news website of the Philadelphia Archdiocese. “I just came here for Mass to thank God for everything he does for us.”
Charlotte Morris of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, who attends the cathedral Mass on weekdays because she works nearby, said: “It will be wonderful to see him; he truly cares about people.”
She still remembers seeing St. John Paul II at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, when she and her late husband were celebrating their 25th anniversary. “There isn’t anything more important than the family. If you don’t have that you don’t have anything,” she added.
Brian Fox, a member of St. Patrick Parish, has never seen a pope before, although he remembers seeing many reminders of a papal visit during his trip to Ireland last year.
“It will be great for the city and it will be great for Catholics,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. Philadelphia is a tight family group, and it will be nice for the pope to come and help develop that.”
Lorraine McGirt of St. Charles Borromeo Parish said she found the prospect “exciting and inspiring.” She not only plans to attend the lectures and workshops of the World Meeting of Families, she also has applied to serve as a host family.
“This is important at a time when families aren’t caring for each other the way they should and particularly because of the strife that is happening in the Catholic Church,” she said. “The family isn’t just your immediate family; it is all of the church.”
“My family will be out of state, but hopefully I will be able to be here,” said Sonia Martinez, who attends Mass at the cathedral when in Philadelphia. “The family is the basic unit of society; without it there is no order, nothing.”
“I just heard about it this morning. How can you not think it is great?” said Paul Prettyman, of Holy Family Parish in Sewell, New Jersey. “My wife and I will be here for it.”
Tom Forsythe, a parishioner of Holy Cross Parish in Philadelphia, said: “It’s fine that the pope is coming. I hope to get a chance to attend and I hope the city provides some means of transportation other than have people trying to come in private vehicles.”
It seems a safe bet, whether it be trains, planes or automobiles, the City of Brotherly Love will have quite a crowd come September.
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