Current Events –
Pope Francis Wows America!!
Pope Francis began a whirlwind visit to the US on Tuesday, visiting Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia.
Current Events
The Catholic faithful turned out in droves to see the pontiff at every stop, with some lucky souls fortunate enough to receive an up-close glimpse or even a personal blessing.
Here is a complete schedule of the first US visit by Pope Francis:
Tuesday, Sept. 22
4 p.m. — President Obama greeted Pope Francis as he arrived at Joint Base Andrews.
Wednesday, Sept. 23
9:15 a.m. — President Obama welcomed the pope to the White House.
11:30 a.m. — The pope led a prayer at St. Matthew’s Cathedral with U.S. bishops.
4:15 p.m. — Pope Francis held a canonization Mass for Junipero Serra, an 18th Spanish Franciscan missionary who established schools for American Indians along the California coast. The first-ever canonization Mass on U.S. soil was held at the nation’s largest Catholic church, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Thursday, Sept. 24
10 a.m. — The Senate and House welcomed the pope in a joint session in his first-ever address to Congress.  The event was broadcast live on the Capitol’s West Front.
11:15 a.m. — St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese hosted Pope Francis. Only 60 parishioners chosen from a lottery of church volunteers and about 250 clients and volunteers from Catholic Charities were allowed in during the visit. Catholic Charities St. Maria’s Meals, which offers 3 weekly food programs in the Washington area, set up 55 tables for the poor and homeless to have lunch as the pope blessed the food and walked through.
4 p.m. — The pope departed Washington for New York City.
New York City
5 p.m. — Pope Francis arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
6:45 p.m. — The pope held an evening prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Friday, Sept. 25
8:30 a.m. — Pope Francis addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the 70th anniversary of the U.N.
11:30 a.m. — A multi-religious service was held at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
4 p.m. — The pope visited Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem.
5 p.m. — Pope Francis lead a procession through Central Park. About 80,000 tickets for onlookers were awarded by the city in a lottery pick.
6 p.m. — Mass was held in Madison Square Garden. The chair the pontiff sat on was built by mostly immigrant day laborers. Young men at Lincoln Hall Boys Haven in Lincolndale built the altar.
Saturday, Sept. 26
8:40 a.m. — Pope Francis departed New York for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia
9:30 a.m. — Pope Francis arrived at Atlantic Aviation.
10:30 a.m. — Mass was held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
4:45 p.m. — The pope visited Independence Mall, the birthplace of American democracy and home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed.
7:30 p.m. — Pope Francis stopped by the Festival of Families on Benjamin Franklin Parkway and held a prayer vigil with the World Meeting of Families — the largest meeting of Catholic families held every 3 years. Singer Aretha Franklin performed for the Pope as well as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Colombian singer/songwriter Juanes, the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Fray, comedian Jim Gaffigan and Mark Wahlberg — who hosted the event.
Sunday, Sept. 27
9:15 a.m. — The pope held a papal meeting with bishops at St. Martin’s Chapel of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
11 a.m. — The pope visited Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. Inmates at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center built the chair the pope sat on.
4 p.m. — Mass was held with the World Meeting of Families.
7 p.m. — The pope visited with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families.
8 p.m. — Pope Francis departed for Rome.
I've said this before and I can honestly say it again…….
I am not Catholic. However, IMO, there is much to admire about this Pope. For example: Thus far, he appears to be a good man. Not a perfect man. But a good man. He seems genuine in his caring and compassion for ALL people. He's offers a message of Love and Hope and Inclusiveness rather than hate, despair and division. And he does so without abandoning the beliefs, principles and core values of the Catholic Church.
If I have any complaints at all….it would be that I thought the security in New York…and definitely in Philadelphia…was waaaay over the top. And don't get me started on the idiotic blattherings of much of the media coverage.
But again. Thus far, this Pope appears to be a good man.