Preparations Continue For Pope’s Visit

It won’t happen until September, but the pope’s visit is very much on the mind of city organizers. With fresh news that Philadelphia will be hosting the 2016 Democratic National Convention, the pressure is on for the city to show that it can competently handle a large-scale event.

The city’s 4th of July celebration will act as a template for handling large crowds.

It’s believed that two million tourists and pilgrims will be flocking to the city to catch a glimpse of the pontiff. Pope Francis will be attending a Festival of Families and holding a mass, both to occur on the Ben Franklin Parkway.

At this stage of the planning, says Donna Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families, the city’s focus is on logistics and operational needs. To wit, labor, lodging, safety, technology, and other aspects of the visit. Lodging, of course, is a major concern and one that has been on the forefront of organizers’ minds since the visit was announced. With so many people coming into the city and an insufficient number of hotel rooms, there is a growing concern about where everyone will be staying. Organizers are trying to enlist families to host one or more visitors through a “Host a Family” program.

In terms of coordinating the pope’s events (including any more activities that may be planned as the time draws closer), city organizers say that they will follow the blueprint set by Philadelphia’s 4th of July festivities each year. The celebrations and fireworks draw as many as 700,000 people to the Ben Franklin Parkway every year. While that number isn’t nearly as big as the one expected to come out and visit the pope, it’s still a valid plan for wrangling so many people in town for a special event.

One thing’s for sure: Philadelphia has a lot of planning to do!