Inmates work to create chair for pope’s Philly prison visit

Philadelphia officials are urging pilgrims to come see Pope Francis and are pressing businesses to stay open during the papal visit.

The pontiff is scheduled to visit Philadelphia on 26-27 September for the World Meeting of Families, a triennial Catholic conference focused on strengthening family bonds. Officials say it will help guide those traveling to the Francis Festival.

“Families are often the “collateral damage” of incarceration and [Pope Francis’] request to include these families shows his deep understanding of this dynamic”, said Louis Giorla, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Prison System, in the release. It can be found on the website of the World Meeting of Families, which the pope is attending.

Nutter also explained that UberBLACK vehicles and the ride share’s wheelchair accessible vehicles will have the same access inside the Francis Festival Grounds as the previously permitted medallion taxi cabs.

Construction of the gift, a wooden chair carved out of a chunk of Black Walnut, has taken place over the past month and is expected to go through refinishing work this coming week. Entertainment will begin performing at the Logan Circle stage after Pope Francis leads a 10:30 a.m. September 26 Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. “This living document not only focuses on how to navigate the city during this one weekend, but also highlights all of the ways in which residents can be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience beyond attendance at the Papal events on Saturday and Sunday”.

“Now is the time for all of us to declare, I’ll be there, because this is not a moment to be missed”, she said.