There is no denying the amount of work that goes into preparing for a papal visit. Still, hotels and restaurants in both cities are expecting a boost from the visit.
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On the flip side, however, is the fact that the pope’s visit is also expected to generate revenue. Pope Francis’ trip to the U.S.is likely to cost tens of millions.
The video, which is just under 30 seconds, captures the Pope speaking in English about his excitement to meet the people of Philadelphia at the World Meeting of Families.
They’ll continue to do so until Sunday when his visit to the USA wraps up.
Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a stretch of cultural centers and grassy parks where homeless sleep and tote their belongings in plastic bags, is undergoing papal security checks and cleanup that will displace some of the downtrodden that Francis champions.
With Pope Francis’ visit taking place in the heart of Philadelphia, coordinating a secure event is a massive logistical challenge.
The city is “on the world stage”, said Jack Ferguson of the city convention and visitors office. Three exits on the cross-city Vine Street Expressway also were closed.
“I’m just excited to hear about how he is going to take what we are dealing with and what we are facing in America and turn it into a redeeming and actually edifying aspect of our faith”, says Courtney Kiolbassa, a Sophmore at Texas A&M. “Those are the complexities of it”.
The Pope will be in New York Friday and will head to Philadelphia on Saturday for the weekend. Francis is visiting the US through Sunday, stopping in Washington, New York and Philadelphia. On Wednesday, Politico reported that news organizations looking to send reporters to cover the World Meeting of Families would be charged thousands of dollars apiece for guaranteed seating – from $1,500 for a single chair for a photographer to $25,000 for an “anchor booth” allowing live television coverage. Local businesses in the service industry, mainly hotels and restaurants, will benefit the most, said Matt Cabrey, spokesman for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. “Most of the businesses in the service industry have made arrangements to have deliveries come in earlier or later than usual; they’ve stocked up on supplies and rented refrigerated trailers”.
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City officials say they have worked with advocates to form a homeless-sensitive plan for the visit by Francis within the restrictions of federal security mandates.
