Pope Francis In Philadelphia

The World Meeting of Families Catholic pilgrimage event brought more than three million people together to meet Pope Francis and share Christian testimony. World Meeting of Families is held every three years and sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family.

The World Meeting of Families is the world’s largest Catholic gathering of families. Each  has a theme that energizes and enlivens the event while adding great depth of meaning to  understanding of what family means to one. The theme of 2015 Philadelphia World Meeting of Families  is  — “Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive,” emphasizing the impact of the love and life of families in the society.

This event is called to unite everybody, including minorities, disabled and LGBT people together in the Holy Spirit, compassion and love. More then 500 volunteers gave up on their weekend to contribute their time and spirit to the Mass and Pop’s visit.

Volunteer opportunities ranged from helping distribute programs and information; greeting and giving directions to dignitaries and guests; to language service associates, helping with language translation for foreign visitors, who visited the City of Brotherly Love for the Pope’s Mass. Other types of volunteering positions were social media digital diplomats and media guides, who were taking pictures and video footage and uploading it to social media as well as helping media to get around.

Tracy Prosceture, a social worker, who is certified in CPR, was volunteering for special services, to help people with disabilities to get around. “I feel like Catholics have had a bad reputation for the last few years because of lot of different things that have been going on with scandals and I believe this event put a positive light on Catholicism and it shows the good of Catholics, instead of people looking at the bad sides” said Prosceture.

According to Prosceture the Pope’s message was not religious, but more related to environment and global warming, however for her it means to being Catholic primarily and do the job of volunteering and helping community.

“The Pope sent a good message though, but I see him as a religious leader, almighty, more, then a global ambassador,” said Prosceture.

World Meeting of Families caused a massive shut down of many businesses and main roads through the Center City. Providing security and safety for the Holy Father and community with multiple check points surrounded by police and security were making sure nobody was armed.

Creating a small Vatican in the heart of the Philadelphia city, The Pope read his speech at the Independence Mall and came down with the parade to speak at Kendowal area. There were a lot of singing, festivities and different ethnic performers topped the event. Aretha Franklin and Andrea Bocelli fulfilled the Holy Spirit that hovered over the City of Brotherly Love.

Amanda Poll is a community volunteer, who was there volunteering as a digital diplomat, interacting with families and taking pictures and video footage and posting it on social media through the whole week.

“I help people to find directions and feel welcome in Philadelphia. I hope my job helps my community and the Pope’s visit will bring revival and the spirit of love to everybody. I know quite a few Jewish people that are here and they don’ t believe in Jesus and this event brings everyone together as one community to celebrate,” said Poll.

 

I certainly think Pope’s visit should implement changes into politics and culture of the Americans. The mindset needs to be changed that Immigrants are just humans, who came to have a better life, initially America was founded by immigrants.

The Pope’s speech has not only touched immigration, globalization and environmental problems, but also brought attention to the minorities rights and LGBT within the church.

The LGBT group “Equally blessed” came to share their religious views and stand for their religious rights.

Delfin Bautista was happy to tell how he helps the community of LGBT people to speak up and identify yourself as LGBT person within the catholic community and church.

“We wanted to participate and share the message Our role here is to spread the faith to LGBT Catholics to humanize our experience as we all come with different shapes and colors and sizes, we are here to share that all families are equally blessed and all deserve to be respected and celebrated as a part of World Meeting of Families,” said Bautista.

There were nearly 20 people with hats and flags representing LGBT minority who came to see and hear the Pope. Members of LGBT group were eagerly involved in different talks, workshops on gender identity and their expression within the Catholic Church.

“After the conference we have gone to sessions, have been asked questions and shared moments of reflection with the public,” said Bautista.

The Pope’s speech spread the words of hope and love to one another. Pope Francis opened the door to a conversation that has not been happening before whether LGBT should be part of the church.

When some Catholics supports LGBT rights in religion to be part of the church and others don’t the research says 1 out of 10 is a LGBT person, but not everyone willing to admit it being afraid of judgements.

“Pope Francis seems to have wanted to create a space where all of us welcome. Ground up movement rather than the top down movement. He is giving us a lot of hope that things are changing and remind us to go back to basics. Doctrine is complicated, but what is more important is as he said today, following your conscience, treating everyone with dignity, and ultimately love all people. The Pope reminds us that the core of being Catholic is love and service to all,” said Bautista.