Brace yourself. It's here.
It's Pope Week.
I think we'll survive. Which is more than I can say about Chip Kelly and the Eagles this morning.
I used my print column this week to talk about what to expect this week with the World Meeting of Families, culminating in the two-day visit by Pope Francis on Saturday and Sunday.
The traffic restrictions are already in place. Both the inner and outer lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway are now closed and will be through the weekend.
Cars are being towed out of the security zone in Center City.
One thing still up in the air is just how many people are likely to make the trek into the city on Saturday and Sunday for the pope's three big public events.
The pontiff is in Cuba now, and will head to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, where he will address Congress. Then it's off to New York for a speech to the United Nations and a tour of Central Park.
Finally, on Saturday morning, he will touch down at Philadelphia International Airport. Later Saturday he will deliver a speech on immigration and religious freedom at Independence Hall, then take part in the finale of the World Meeting of Families, the Festival of Families on the Parkway.
On Sunday he will retrace the act of a predecessor, Pope John Paul II, in celebrating an outdoor Mass at Eakins Oval on the Parkway.
The big question continues to be just how many people will show up?
Initial estimates of as many as 2 million pilgrims now seem to be getting a serious revision. Months of warnings of traffic and security restrictions have many wondering just how many will actually be in the Parkway next Sunday.
So I'll over an over/under. I will set the line at 1 million followers. I'm taking the under. I say about 750,000 show up.
What do you think? Post a comment and weigh in.
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