Man taken into custody before pope’s Mass released

Francis will spend the last two of his six days in the U.S.in Philadelphia as the star attraction at the World Meeting of Families, a conference for more than 18,000 people from around the world that has been underway as the pope traveled to Washington and New York.

Pope Francis arrived in the City of Brotherly Love today for the final leg of his USA visit – a festive weekend devoted to celebrating Catholic families – and immediately called for the church to place greater value on women.

Pope Francis departed New York City at 7:40 a.m. CST and arrived in Philadelphia around 8:30 a.m. After arriving at the airport, the pope – already in his motorcade – told his security detail to stop.

Pope Francis declared Friday that there is a “right of the environment” and that mankind has no authority to abuse it, telling more than 100 world leaders and diplomats at the United Nations that urgent action is needed to halt the destruction of God’s creation.

Francis will celebrate Mass on Saturday at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul with local priests and nuns. The main event of the day, and perhaps the entire trip, will be a late afternoon Mass on the Parkway expected to draw 1 million people.Not all the events here will be church-sanctioned.

Later Saturday, Francis will give a speech on religious freedom and immigration at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, and will be part of a parade for a World Meeting of Families festival.

On Sunday, he will meet with American bishops, visit a prison and lead a farewell mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before flying out of the country in the evening. Francis continued with the closing prayers, then said to the gathered faithful, “Please, don’t forget to pray for me“.

Looking at Pope Francis’ schedule is enough to make you exhausted, but after a busy week in Washington and New York, there is no slowing down for the popular pontiff.

“Those words changed Katharine’s life, because they reminded her that, in the end, every Christian man and woman, by virtue of baptism, has received a mission”, said Francis. About 2,000 National Guardsmen, 265 bomb technicians, and more than 160 bomb-detecting dogs were protecting the city on Saturday. Francis also addressed the United Nations General Assembly before visiting the 9/11 Memorial and participate in a multi-faith service.

“I look forward to being with you in these days and I ask you to bring my affectionate greetings to those who could not be with us, especially the many elderly priests and religious who join us in spirit”, he said.

He leaves from Philadelphia tomorrow night.

“It’s probably not politicians who will remember his message but the kids”, said Liza Stephens, 48, of Sacramento, Calif., who was in Philadelphia with her two daughters, ages 10 and 12. The three spent time volunteering to bag food for Africa, among other activities at the family conference.

“We love the pope and we want him to feel comfortable and secure here”, she said.

The city is buzzing in anticipation of the arrival of Pope Francis later this morning. His host will be Chaput, an outspoken opponent of abortion and gay marriage who takes a harder line on church teaching in the archdiocese.

People jumped on top of each other’s shoulders, phones and iPads raised, hoping to get a quick photo of the holy leader as he briefly waved hello.

But she said the intense attention to his speeches here could inspire people to “begin to think more about what Catholicism really means”.