The Cathedral and the Convention: Philly’s Quest for the DNC and a Papal Visit

They say that, in England, some little old ladies still keep their formal living rooms in immaculate shape at all times, just so that they are prepared for an unexpected visit from the Queen. Sounds pretty stressful, right? Just imagine how freaked out you’d be if the Holy Father stopped by! And yet, a delegation of city bigwigs are currently en route to the Vatican, with the intent of persuading the Pope to swing by and visit in 2015.

Can a group of local bigwigs convince the head honcho of the Catholic church to visit Philadelphia? More importantly, will he bring the Popemobile?

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, Governor Tom Corbett and Mayor Michael Nutter have been granted an audience with His Holiness on Wednesday morning to discuss next year’s World Meeting of Families, and the possibility that Pop Francis might pack up the Popemobile and come check out the City of Brotherly Love.

Meanwhile, back at home, ex-Gov Rendell is leading the charge to bring the 2016 Democratic National Convention to Philly. He led a meeting yesterday to discuss the logistics behind raising $50mil for a bid to land the convention, which would prospectively be held at the Wells Fargo Center. The Dems’ big fiesta would be an important to-do under normal circumstances, but the 2016 summit will crown Barack Obama’s successor as the party’s next presidential hope. All eyes will be on the convention, and the powers that be want that gaze firmly fixed on Philly.

Rendell & co. will have to give Columbus, OH a run for its money – the all-important swing state hotspot is widely considered a frontrunner. All would-be hosts will have to brainstorm a bit harder this year as they sketch out a convention budget, as the President just signed a bill stripping political conventions of public moolah.

If all goes as planned, big things could be coming to Philly in the next two years – and this isn’t even counting that Super Bowl bid upon which the Eagles are sitting.

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