While the Congress finished yesterday, the Saint John contingent was up and out once Our Holy Father arrived in Philadelphia. We were concerned initially about the potential travel issues and lines, but were quickly transported by SEPTA into the city and walked to the security checkpoints. Once into “the box” (the central part of Philadelphia that was locked down to traffic and requiring special passes to enter), we were able to celebrate the week’s pilgrimage with the friends we have made. We were able to listen to Pope Francis’ speech at Independence Hall, marked with his impassioned plea of how Religious Tolerance creates harmony when many religions working together on their commonality for the goals of human dignity.
The excitement started to build as he traveled from the seminary towards the Philadelphia Arts Museum. It felt like the entire city was pressing to see Pope Francis and we were able to get some wonderful pictures and felt his presence as he traveled past us. He spoke off the cuff about family:
To knock on the doors of families and to find the families who love each other, families who bring up their children to grow and help move forward to create, develop a society of truth, goodness and beauty.
The music (from Andrea Bocelli to Sister Sledge to Aretha Franklin), stories, and heartfelt prayers of the Festival of Families continued well into the night and our group walked to the hotel exhausted, but completely filled with joy. And like Pope Francis joked to us:
I’ll see you all at mass tomorrow. What time is that again?
