The area on the Parkway closest to Pope Francis' events later this month will be designated for ticket holders.
That became clear Wednesday when the Secret Service released pedestrian maps for the Papal weekend in Philadelphia -- after the map was posted on the PlanPhilly Facebook page for a full 24 hours, with people speculating what the "Ticket Holders" area on the map meant. It stretches from North 20th Street to the back of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Anne d'Harnoncourt Drive.
The Philadelphia Archdiocese later released a statement explaining the tickets will only be available to their 219 parishes as well as select social service groups.
"Tickets are being made available to the 219 parishes throughout the five-county Archdiocese as well as to Archdiocesan social service ministries, which touch the lives of those whom Pope Francis cares so deeply," said Donna Crilley Farrell, the executive director of the World Meeting of Families. "These plans were put in place to ensure that representatives representing the vibrant life and ongoing work of the Archdiocese were part of these joyful events."
The following dioceses received allotments for designated access to the Festival of Families and Papal Mass:
Pennsylvania
- Allentown
- Altoona-Johnstown
- Erie
- Greensburg
- Harrisburg
- Pittsburgh
- Scranton
New Jersey
- Camden
- Trenton
Delaware
- Wilmington
The World Meeting of Families has repeatedly rallied around the idea that Philadelphia is the only city on the Papal tour where the Pope's events are both public and free. This is the first mention of needing tickets to get up near the Pope's stage. In her statement, Farrell insisted the ticketing will not limit participation for those who don't belong to a local parish. Realistically however, it does mean you can only get up to 20th Street without a ticket.
"It is important to be clear that the announcement of limited ticketing does not limit participation in these events in any way," Farrell said. "There is plenty of room for all who wish to attend. Now, more than ever is the time to declare, I'll Be There!'"
The Archdiocese sent another release later Wednesday night stating that "85 percent of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway" is open to the public.
"The World Meeting of Families strove to keep the vast majority of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway open to the public while also ensuring that parishioners of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which is the host, could be part of this historic event," an Archdiocese spokesperson wrote.
The spokesman also said all World Meeting of Families Congress Participants, representing more than 100 countries, will have access to the Festival of Families and the Papal Mass.
CLICK HERE for information on ticketing for Papal events.
The following streets have been identified as pedestrian routes to all event sites during the Papal visit. The suggested pedestrian route that is chosen will depend on your transit drop-off location and event site destination.
• Poplar Street from Poplar Drive to N 27th Street
• N 27th Street from Poplar Drive to Parrish Street
• Parrish Street from N 27th Street to N 20th Street
• N 20th Street from Parrish Street to Green Street
• Green Street from N 20th Street to N Broad Street
• N Broad Street from points north to Callowhill Street
• N 19th Street from Green Street to Spring Garden Street
• Spring Garden Street from N 19th Street to N Broad Street
• Callowhill Street from N Broad Street to N 2nd Street
• N 11th Street from Callowhill Street to Filbert Street
• N 5th Street from Callowhill Street to the East Side of Franklin Square and the WB ramp of I-676 (Ben Franklin Bridge)
• Ben Franklin Bridge (WB lanes only) to Camden, NJ
• N 2nd & S 2nd Streets from Callowhill Street to Dock Street
• Dock Street from S 2nd Street to Spruce Street
• Spruce Street from Dock Street to S 18th Street
• S 10th Street between Locust Street and Spruce Street
• S Broad Street from Locust Street to all points South toward the Sports Complex
• S 18th Street from Spruce Street to Walnut Street
• S 19th Street from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street
• Chestnut Street from S 19th Street, past 33rd Street and points West
• Walnut Street from S 18th Street to 33rd Street
• South Street from Convention Avenue and University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field to 33rd Street
• 33rd Street to Chestnut Street
• Schuylkill Av from Market Street to Walnut Street
The following streets have been identified as pedestrian routes for Parkway ticket holders attending the Festival of Families and World Meeting of Families Prayer Vigil events on Saturday, September 26, 2015 and the Papal Mass on Sunday, September 27, 2015.
• N 22nd Street from Green Street to Pennsylvania Avenue
• Spring Street from N 23rd Street to N 22nd Street
• Green Street from N 22nd Street to N 20th Street
• N 21st Street from Green Street to Pennsylvania Avenue
• Hamilton Street from N 21st Street to Pennsylvania Avenue
• N 20th Street from Green Street to intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Callowhill Street
• S 20th Street from Chestnut to N 20th Street and Race Street
• Cuthbert Street from N 20th Street to N 21st Street
• N 21st Street from Cuthbert Street to Winter Street
Below are the Ben Franklin Parkway event security entry points for ticket holders on Saturday, September 26, 2015 (Festival of Families) and Sunday, September 27, 2015 (Papal Mass), beginning at 6:00 a.m. each day.
• Pennsylvania Avenue at the intersection of N 23rd Street and Spring Garden Street
• N 22nd Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Hamilton Street
• Hamilton Street between N 21st and N 22nd Streets
• 21st Street between Hamilton Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
• N 20th Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Callowhill Street
• N 20th Street at Race Street
• N 21st Street at Winter Street
The following streets have been identified as pedestrian routes for Ben Franklin Parkway Non-Ticket Holders (General Public) attending the Festival of Families and World Meeting of Families Prayer Vigil events on Saturday, September 26, 2015 and the Papal Mass on Sunday, September 27, 2015.
• N 19th Street from Spring Garden Street to Wood Street
• N Broad Street from Callowhill Street to Cherry Street
• Race Street from N Broad Street to N 15th Street
• N 15th Street from Race Street to Cherry Street
• S Broad Street from Chestnut Street to Locust Street
• S 15th Street from Chestnut Street to Spruce Street
• S 19th Street from Cherry Street to Chestnut Street
• 18th Street from Cherry Street to John F. Kennedy Boulevard
• John F. Kennedy Boulevard from 19th Street to 17th Street
• Market Street from 19th Street to 17th Street
Below are the Ben Franklin Parkway event security entry points for non-ticket holders on Saturday, September 26, 2015 ONLY (Festival of Families), beginning at 6:00 a.m.
• N 15th Street at Cherry Street
• N Broad Street at Cherry Street
• S Broad Street at Chestnut Street
• S 15th Street at Chestnut Street
• S17th Street at Market Street
• S 17th Street at John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Below are the Ben Franklin Parkway event security entry points for non-ticket holders on Sunday, September 27, 2015 (Papal Mass), beginning at 6:00 a.m.
• N 19th Street at Wood Street
• N 18th Street at Cherry Street
• N 19th Street at Cherry Street
The following streets have been identified as pedestrian routes for Independence Mall ticket holders attending the Meeting for Religious Freedom events on Saturday, September 26, 2015 ONLY.
• N 6th Street from Callowhill Street to Race Street
• Race Street from N 5th Street to N 2nd Street
• Arch Street from N 5th Street to N 2nd Street
• Market Street from N 4th Street to N 2nd Street
Below are the Independence Mall event security entry points for ticket holders on Saturday, September 26, 2015 ONLY (Meeting for Religious Freedom), beginning at 6:00 a.m.
• N 6th Street at Race Street
• N 5th Street at Race Street
• N 5th Street at Arch Street
• N 4th Street at Market Street
• S 4th Street at Chestnut Street
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