We know all about the traffic restrictions. And the security perimeter.
Residents have had to move their cars off the street of be towed.
Schools are closing. Some people are leaving town.
Welcome to Pope Week.
With all the talk of security, it's easy to forget the reason for all the hoopla surrounding this weekend's visit by Pope Francis to Philadelphia, which follows stops in Washington, D.C., and New York City.
The World Meeting of Families, the celebration of the family held every three years by the Catholic Church, kicks off today in Philadelphia. More than 20,000 visitors from around the globe are here for the summit, with this year's theme of "Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive."
A series of seminars and speakers will take place all week, culminating in the Festival of Families Saturday night on the Ben Franklin Parkway, where Pope Francis will join the revelers. Thousands are expected to jam the Parkway for the event, with as many as a million coming back on Sunday for Pope Francis' outdoor Mass on Eakins Oval on the Parkway.
Here is today's World Meeting of Families Schedule of events:
* 11:30 a.m.: 17,000 pilgrims, representing over 100 countries, will hear from Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, and Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family. They will provide remarks and host a brief media Q&A.
* 1 p.m.: Opening Ceremony, based on theme of "Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive,: featuring a variety of choral and student performances to commemorate the start of the Congress. Twelve students representing secondary, elementary and special education will take part in a special performance to highlight the distance traveled by pilgrims to attend the WMOF Congress.
During the Opening Ceremony, Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director for the World Meeting of Families - Philadelphia 2015, will introduce The Sacred Now: Faith and Family in the 21st Century mural as an official contender to set a Guinness World Record for "Most Contributions to a Painting by Numbers." Following the Opening Ceremony, pilgrims will be invited to start painting the mural, inching closer to the record with each stroke.
* 4:30 p.m.: Opening Mass of the World Meeting of Families - Philadelphia 2015 Congress, Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will bless a life-size marble casting of Michelangelo's Pietà' at the Pennsylvania Convention Center's Broad Street Atrium. The Vatican Observatory Foundation has authorized and licensed the creation of 100 Pietà marble castings from a mold derived from the original Pietà.
To recap:
Opening Press Conference
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Featuring Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia and Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family
The Pennsylvania Convention Center: Hall A
1101 Arch Street
Philadelphia
Opening Ceremony
1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Convention Center: Grand Hall
Guinness World Record Mural Painting Session
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Convention Center: Grand Hall
Mass of the World Meeting of Families - Philadelphia 2015 & Blessing of the Pietà'
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Mass)
6:00 p.m. (Blessing of Pieta)
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Broad Street Atrium
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