The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, for example, has estimated that the papal visit, combined with the World Meeting of Families, will generate $418 million in spending in and around the city, a number that encompasses food and lodging, transportation and the innumerable pope-themed souvenirs, from t-shirts to bobble-head dolls, now being sold by vendors all over the three cities where Francis is scheduled to appear.
Advertisement
POPE FRANCIS may be one of the holiest men on the planet, but when he tastes the new flavor of ice cream that the dapper brothers over at the Franklin Fountain were asked to create for his meal at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary this weekend, he’ll sure feel sinful. He’ll arrive in New York on Thursday night and leave Saturday morning for Philadelphia. “There’s a significant amount of work that still has to be done”.
Jerry Davis and his family, Chesterbook residents, will be presenting gifts to Pope Francis during the Mass for the Archdiocese at the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul.
The U.S. Secret Service is in charge of the pope’s security during his visit. They include: Vine, 22nd, Lombard and Market, east of City Hall. Metal barricades will be erected around the parkway. A lengthy list of items, including “selfie” sticks and balloons, will be banned.
Model aircraft and drones have been banned, and other flight restrictions will be in place for the pope’s visit. Courts and other city government buildings will be shut.
City police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, speaking with reporters after the mayor’s news conference, said no plan for an event like the papal visit would please everyone but said his force was prepared.
Frank Coppenbarger, the team’s longtime director of travel and clubhouse services, made the call to change things up weeks ago after reading news reports of street and bridge closures in Philadelphia. In the early morning hours Wednesday, out-of-town visitors were already assembling along the National Mall in Washington, hoping for a glimpse of Francis when his motorcade passed by later in the day. But the Pope’s not going to be in West Chester.
Advertisement
“Some of our guys haven’t been here that long and they only know one way home”, Coppenbarger said.
