Pope Francis Recognizes Women’s “Immense Contribution” To Society At Mass

He said immigrants should be responsible citizens and not get discouraged by hardships.

Pope Francis captivated a giant audience during his tour of the United States on Saturday by extolling the virtue of compassion for immigrants and praising the ideals of religious freedom. An global gathering held every three years to encourage and strengthen families across the globe, this year’s World Meeting of Families has as its theme, “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive”.

The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff visited the site of Independence Hall, the 18th century red-brick building where the nation’s two bedrock documents, the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, were adopted.

Garret Smith of Wilbraham told 22News, “The city is just very much alive, it’s nearly magical”.

Dancers from the Philadelphia Ballet perform for Pope Francis, …

Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski has traveled along with the Pope this week and witnessed the response he’s generated from people of all faiths.

Pope Francis had already referred on the trip to his own immigrant status as a son of Italian parents in his native Argentina and his pride at being in the USA, a country largely built by immigrant families.

Francis also touched on the issue of religious liberty in his speech, saying “by its nature, transcends places of worship and the private sphere of individuals and families”.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput reportedly asked Pope Francis to address religious freedom during his address at Independence Mall, CNN reported.

“One of the great challenges facing the Church in this generation is to foster in all the faithful a sense of personal responsibility for the Church’s mission, and to enable them to fulfill that responsibility as missionary disciples, as a leaven of the Gospel in our world”, he said. “Philadelphia has been waiting to welcome Pope Francis“.

The festival is being hosted by actor Mark Wahlberg and includes musical performances from Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, the Philadelphia Orchestra and others.

The Secret Service had estimated the festival space on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway could fit about a quarter-million people, the Associated Press reports.

Pope Francis hugs an unidentified member of a Ukrainian family during the World Meeting of Families festival in Philadelphia, Saturday, September 26, 2015.

The pontiff arrived in the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday morning to kick off the final leg of his U.S. visit.

Suann Malone Maier, who was in attendance in the Basilica, was thrilled at the opportunity to see Pope Francis again.