2 p.m.: Here's our story on the very special moment shared by the Keating family from Downingtown with Pope Francis after his arrival at Philadelphia International Airport this morning: Read it here.
12:25: Just spotted one of my favorite Delco people, Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, president of Neumann University, awaiting the arrival of Pope Francis at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. She looks radiant.
12:05: Here's an update: It did in fact involve the Keating family. Dad Chuck is the band director at Bishop Shanahan. His son Michael, who is confined to a wheelchair, was blessed by the pope.
Here is an update from the Associated Press:
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pope Francis kissed the forehead of a boy with cerebral palsy after landing in Philadelphia, coaxing a small smile from the profoundly disabled 10-year-old.
Francis apparently spied Michael Keating as he was being driven away from the plane on Saturday morning. Ordering the car to stop, Francis got out and walked over to the boy, put his hand on his head and kissed him as his sobbing mother looked on.
Kristin Keating thanked the pope, who grasped her hand. He also shook the hand of Keating's husband, Chuck Keating, the band director at Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown. The band played for the pope's arrival.
Kristin Keating calls it a beautiful gesture by Francis and says she believes Michael felt the pope's blessing.
11:25: My vote for the most moving moment of the pope's visit to Philly so far came right after he got off the plane at Philadelphia International Airport. The Bishop Shanahan High School (my wife's alma mater) Band was playing for Pope Francis' arrival in Philly. There was a young man in a wheelchair who TV reports indicated may be the son of the band director. As Pope Francis pulled away in his little Fiat, his caravan cruised past over to where the band was playing on the tarmac. Of course he stopped, and got out when he caught a glimpse of the young man in the wheelchair. If you didn't have tears in your eyes as the Holy Father hugged the young man, along with his parents and some of the nuns from Shanahan, you might want to check your pulse. If anyone knows who these people are in the photo, could you please post their IDs so I can properly note them. Just incredibly moving.
11:15: In case you were wondering, this of course is not the first time a pope has visited Philadelphia, nor the first time an outdoor Mass will be celebrated at Eakins Oval. Here's a look at the scene in October 1979, when Pope John Paul II said Mass in front of nearly a million of the faithful.
10:45: Remember to pick up a copy of the Sunday Times tomorrow morning for a special glossy keepsake commemorative photo marking the historic visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.
10:05: It's still a little hard to believe that after so many months of preparation, Pope Francis is actually here. But he has arrived in Philadelphia, and is now on his way to the Cathedral Basilica SS Peter and Paul to celebrate a Mass for clergy and invited guests. Here's Kathleen Carey's story.
9:58 a.m.: Pope Francis stop his Fiat after waving to the Bishop Shanahan band, gets out to bless a young man in a wheelchair. Anyone else have tears in their eyes? Powerful moment.
9:45: It's time. The moment is at hand. After months of preparation, Pope Francis' plane has touched down on the ground at Philadelphia International Airport.
9:45: You just have to love Upper Darby top cop Mike Chitwood. His commment on 69th Street Security? "If the Russians invaded us here, we'd win." Couple hundreds folks have made way through terminal this morning. One Note: If you're going, you must have a ticket before you go through the checkpoint.
9:35: Note for folks heading to 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby on way to see pope. Correspondent Linda Reilly reports all traffic coming from West Chester Pike and Garrett Road is being forced to go right on Copley, then left on Ludlow for dropoffs. Then they can walk the two blocks to the terminal. Enter by the side door.
9:25: Have to hand it to the folks at the Plumstead Inn on State Street in Media. They have one of the best signs I've seen all week in connection with the pope's visit. The place seems to have undergone a name change. Think Francis will drop by for a cold one?
9:05: We have our first story of the day, noting the smaller-than-expected crowds at Primos Station. Numbers seem to be running much higher at Paoli, Radnor and Fort Washington. Here's the story.
8:50: Pope has arrived at airport in New York. Seems to be running a tad behind schedule. Was supposed to touch down at Philly International at 9:30. Flight takes about an hour.
8:45: How cool is this. Pope Francis was ferried from downtown New York City out to the airport in none other than a version of Boeing's V-22 Opsrey tilt-rotor aircraft. Pride of Delco!
8:35: How cool is this. Call it the Pride of Delco! Pope Francis is being ferried to the airport in New York City in a version of the Boeing V-22 Osprey. Wonder if the pope knows that the copter originated just a few miles from where he will land at Philly International here in Ridley Township.
8:10 a.m.: Never let it be said that anyone getting on the train at Primos Station did so on an empty stomach. The good workers at the Primos Wawa and Giant were out this morning offering 'Pope-alicious' donuts and pretzels. First responders seemed to enjoy the offer. Still not much in the way of ridership.
8:a.m.: Just got an update from SEPTA personnel at Primos Station. Only 150 have boarded the trains so far. Officials say more tickets holders are expected in the next "shift," which runs from 8:30 to noon.
7:45: It is down these steps that Pope Francis will step on Philadelphia. Welcome, Francis!
7:30 a.m.: There is a small group of people already in place at Philadelphia International Airport, where Pope Francis will touch down after his short flight from New York City at 9:30 a.m. Among them are some family members of the Bishop Shanahan High School Marching Band in Downingtown. They will play for the pontiff's arrival. When he departs Sunday night, he will be given a proper send off by the Cardinal O'Hara Marching Band from right here in Delco. Here's a story on the O'Hara Band. Reporter Kathleen Carey is in place at the airport this morning to capture the pope's arrival in Philly.
7:25 a.m.: Pope Francis will touch down in Philly just about two hours from now.
Here is his schedule for the historic two-day visit to the Philadelphia:
SATURDAY
• 8:40 a.m. Departs New York City by plane.
• 9:30 a.m.: Arrival and greeting at Atlantic Aviation, Philadelphia International Airport.
• 10:30 a.m.: Celebrates Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. Private event for invited clergy and guests.
• 12:45 p.m.: Meeting with seminarians St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
• 4:30 p.m.: Speech on immigration and religious freedom at Independence Hall.
• Following the speech the pontiff will take part in Papal Parade of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Exact time to be determined.
• 7:30 p.m.: Takes part in final event of World Meeting of Families, the Festival of Families on the Parkway.
SUNDAY
• 9:15 a.m.: Meeting with international bishops at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
• 11 a.m.: Visit prisoners and families at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Holmesburg.
• Will take part in 2nd Papal Parade in the Afternoon on the Parkway, with exact time to be determined.
• 4 p.m.: Celebrates Mass at Eakins Oval. As many as a million expected to attend.
• 8 p.m.: Departs from Philadelphia International Airport.
7 a.m.: So far there has not been much use for this sign. People who arrive for the train at Primos Station from Oak Avenue or Providence Road have to walk back almost to the Daily Times plant to enter a chute will then take them back up to the train crossing.
6:45 a.m.: Daylight arrives at Primos Station, but the key word is light. Very light ridership on R3 line. Officials indicate first train out of Media also light, with only about 50 riders.
6:15 a.m.: Still almost no one at the Primos Station. They've sold 4,000 of the special regional rail passes for the two days from this location. I'm told they sold about 1,600 for Saturday and 2,500 for Sunday. Maybe people are waiting for light.
I definitely think there will be more people going Sunday as opposed to today. But then again, if it rains I'm not so sure about that.
6 a.m.:
We will be live all day covering the arrival of Pope Francis. But we want you to be part of our coverage. Make sure you Tweet us your pictures and video. Use the hashtag #popedfm to be part of our live blog.
You can see the blog here.
5:30 a.m.:
Here's my initial reaction after driving into Primos early and watching as the first train arrived.
Where is everybody?
There was only a handful of pilgrims waiting for the first train.
Trains started running into the city at 5:30 a.m. There are basically two shifts, from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m., and then 8:30 to noon.
Maybe things will pick up later on.
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