California Celebrates Pope Francis from Afar

While he is visiting Washington, D.C. and New York City, Philadelphia-our home-is arguably the most important stop on his tour.

Smiling, he says, “They’re expecting two million people in Philadelphia“.

Francis is the fourth pope to visit the USA and the first one since Pope Benedict in 2008.

Pope Francis visits our country this week, and it is an occasion of great excitement and anticipation for the Roman Catholic faithful of the Diocese of San Bernardino, and, I’m sure, for Catholics everywhere. Sixty-five percent of U.S. Catholics said the Pope has been good for the Church, compared to just 15 percent who believe he’s had a negative impact. “I think he knows that there’s a large contingent of U.S. Catholics that can be very influential in politics, but also in how we treat each other and what message we send to the world“.

Dolan asked Schumer to be on hand to greet the pope when he arrives Thursday evening at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, where Francis will preside over the traditional evening prayer service called vespers. It says to follow this fad, follow this person on Instagram. Erie Bishop Lawrence Persico and Bishop Emeritus Donald Trautman are in Philadelphia today to prepare for the World Meeting of Families, which is expected to draw between 10,000 and 15,000 participants.

“(The youth department from the Diocese of Nashville) was given a lottery of a small amount of tickets … so we just found out about it a month or so ago that we could go”, said Allison Vargo, director of youth ministry at the Murfreesboro Catholic parish.

“Will people come back to the faith because of Pope Francis?” For those that aren’t going to be in those cities, and want to follow Pope Francis’ visit on their TV or computer through Live-streaming, that is also a possibility.

Bishop Richard Malone agrees and said Pope Francis’ visit is creating a new energy around the religion.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, is the 266th and current Pope of the Catholic Church. “It is an incredible experience for America to be able to welcome the pope to the United States“, Buckhorn told FOX 13. His appeal to the public has a wide-reaching message.

“He cares for us, he’s concerned for us and he recognizes that the lord has blessed the catholic people and all peoples here in the united states for so many years” Mangan said.