Pope Francis greeting pilgrims on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, prior to Mass. Photo credit: Richard Girkin.

Ten years ago, the eyes of the world were focused on Philadelphia as the eighth World Meeting of Families took place. The World Meeting of Families is a triennial event of prayer, catechesis and celebration, drawing participants from around the globe. It seeks to strengthen the bonds between families and to bear witness to the crucial importance of marriage and the family for all of society. The first was held in Rome in 1994. After a week of panels and discussions, the final two days were dedicated to events attended by Pope Francis. This event marked the second time a Pope had visited the City of Brotherly Love. The first was in 1979 with Pope John Paul II. You can read some more about that visit here:

Commemorative medal struck for the Visit of Pope Francis to the United States, 2015.032.01

Philadelphia was the final stop of Pope Francis’s visit to the United States, following, Washington D.C and New York. In the nation’s capital, the Holy Father gave a historic speech at Capitol Hill, calling for peace, compassion and working towards the common good. Pope Francis also travelled to the Basilica pf the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to preside over the canonization Mass for Junipero Serra. During his time in New York, Pope Francis held an interfaith vigil at the 9/11 Memorial, spoke at the United Nations, and held mass at Madison Square Garden.

On September 26th, Pope Francis boarded a plane for Philadelphia. After arriving, the Holy Father traveled to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul for Mass, the first event in his busy, two-day schedule. Giving remarks on the schedule, Archbishop Charles Chaput noted that “It is an itinerary that says, ‘I walk with you – and so does the Lord.’ It says, ‘Embrace your faith and embrace one another as children of God.’ It says, ‘God forgives.’ And it says ‘Come together in celebration.’ The afternoon saw the Holy Father visit Independence Hall, where he gave a talk on religious freedom. Speaking from the same lectern Abraham Lincoln used for the Gettysburg Address, Pope Francis began his homily:

View of Pope Francis (under the blue arrow) in front of Independence Hall through a binocular. Photo credit: Patrick Shank.

Dear Friends,

Good afternoon. One of the highlights of my visit is to stand here, before Independence Hall, the birthplace of the United States of America. It was here that the freedoms which define this country were first proclaimed. The Declaration of Independence stated that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that governments exist to protect and defend those rights. Those ringing words continue to inspire us today, even as they have inspired peoples throughout the world to fight for the freedom to live in accordance with their dignity.

History also shows that these or any truths must constantly be reaffirmed, re-appropriated and defended. The history of this nation is also the tale of a constant effort, lasting to our own day, to embody those lofty principles in social and political life. We remember the great struggles which led to the abolition of slavery, the extension of voting rights, the growth of the labor movement, and the gradual effort to eliminate every kind of racism and prejudice directed at further waves of new Americans. This shows that, when a country is determined to remain true to its principles, those founding principles based on respect for human dignity, it is strengthened and renewed. When a country is mindful of its roots, it keeps growing, it is renewed and it continues to embrace newcomers, new individuals and new peoples.

Archivist Patrick Shank recalls the event: "When Pope Francis visited Philadelphia for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, my family and I were excited to participate in as many of the events we could. We were fortunate enough to get tickets for all the main events, including his Holy Father’s speech at Independence Hall. He spoke of the importance of religious freedom and the need to remember the past to help safeguard the soul. Following the speech, we made our way to the Parkway for the Festival of Families."

Photograph of pilgrims and stage for the Festival of Families. Photo credit: Richard Girkin

Missal used by Pope Francis during the Papal Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway

In the evening, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway came alive with the Festival of Families. The night included both witness talks from families as well as entertainment. From international acts like Juanes and Andrea Bocelli to Sister Sledge singing their hit “We Are Family,” very appropriate for the occasion. Assistant Archivist Richard Girkin was working at one of the ticket checkpoints that afternoon. It was his last shift after a week of volunteering during the conference. Right before his shift was over, a lady came up to him and a few other volunteers and handed them tickets to the Festival of Families. For him, it was a memorable experience. During his stay in Philadelphia, Pope Francis stayed at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. Fr. Sean Bransfield, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, was a faculty member at the time and living at the Seminary. He said that "Living on the same campus/same grounds with the Pope for those days was such an incredible and exciting experience for all of us who were blessed to be on campus with him that weekend." On the morning of September 27th, after speaking with Bishops gathered for the event, Pope Francis made his way to Northeast Philadelphia to the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. There, he spent time and gave a sermon to the male inmates, who presented him with a handcrafted throne. The final day saw the Benjamin Franklin Parkway transform from a festive party to a solemn gathering for the Papal Mass. As Mr. Shank recalls: "The lines for security were very long and constant chants of 'Viva el Papa' rang in the air. I still remember the crowd continuing to sing 'Gift of Finest Wheat' after the choir had finished singing." Fr. Bransfiled, who helped distribute Holy Communion, remembers "just how many people were there, and just the excitement level and joy of so many people gathered in one place was just an incredible sight and overall experience, one I will never forget."

While the gathered faithful were energized for the visit of Pope Francis, so too was the secular world. Walking around Philadelphia, every souvenir shop seemed to have the image of the Pontiff in various mementos;  from bobbleheads and plush dolls, to posters and artwork. Hard Rock Café had a set of six pins to commemorate the visit. Even the Philadelphia Phillies did not miss out, creating a baseball card for the occasion. I'm sure that Pope Leo XIV will be the eventual subject of a baseball card, given the fact that he is a Chicago White Sox fan.

Baseball rookie card of Pope Francis given out as a promotion during the September 16th game against the Washington Nationals.