Pope Francis Arrives in Philadelphia

Francis will celebrate an outdoor Mass on the parkway Sunday in ending his first-ever USA trip.

New York treated the pontiff to a rock-star reception, shutting down the city in draconian security measures to allow him ease of movement.

Speaking to a crowd of more than 40,000 gathered outside of the famed Independence Hall in Philadelphia, he received an excited response to his urging that the United States live up to its historical call to welcome the world’s exhausted, poor and huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

The pontiff will make the short flight from New York in the morning, touching down in Philadelphia at 9:30 am (1330 GMT) before heading straight to mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

On Saturday morning, Francis flew to Philadelphia for a big Vatican-sponsored rally for Catholic families.

He said the placement of the women religious in the cathedral was not a measure of their value. In the background, a marching band played the theme from the movie “Rocky” as he descended the stairs of the plane. Francis also blessed a boy in a wheelchair on the tarmac, kissing him on the forehead.

Catholics from around the world, America and Philadelphia residents drawn to the hugely popular pope camped on streets overnight or spent the day in the sun waiting for a glimpse of Francis.

Felicia Hernandez, of Orlando, Fla., walks along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway ahead Pope Francis’ visit, September 26, 2015, in Philadelphia.

Pope Francis is greeted by Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles… He’s not scripted. He’s relatable.

Pope Francis has blessed a 5-foot wooden cross that is especially important to Hispanics as he prepares to give a speech on religious freedom and immigration in Philadelphia. “People feel he’s honest and he’s genuine”.

And on Thursday he said to priests and religious in New York that “you have suffered greatly in the recent past by having to bear the shame of some of your brothers who harmed and scandalized the church”.

“She really does exemplify someone who noticed a need and focused on it”, he said. “Each one of us has to respond, as best we can, to the Lord’s call”. He was eventually convicted of child endangerment, becoming the first American church official convicted for failing to stop abusers.

Pope Francis has met with sexual abuse victims before, including at the Vatican in 2014.

During his visit to the United States, Pope Francis has made only passing reference to the scandal. He recently wrote in the archdiocese newspaper that abortion is “a uniquely wicked act” that can not be seen as one sin among many. Francis has famously said, “Who am I to judge?” when asked about a supposedly gay priest, but has also affirmed church teaching on marriage.

The bishop said he thinks that the pope’s message resonates across faiths and for that reason his visit will help the Catholic Church in its relationship with other denominations. “It was great”, she said. He apologized for not being at the Mass in person, but said he had promised CBS that he would “do (his) new talk show every night”.