A parade of people stood before Pope Francis -- and the million-plus crowd watching on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at the Festival of Families -- and told the stories of their families. Then Francis took the stage and laid out his own vision of family, and the important roles family and faith play with each other.

"The most beautiful thing that God did, says the bible, was the family," Francis said. 

Francis strayed far from his prepared remarks, getting animated as he talked about the role families played in the bible - from Adam and Eve to Cain and Abel to Mary and Joseph - and how family and love can help overcome problems.

"Some of you might say, ‘Father, you speak because you’re not married,'" Francis said. "Families have difficulties. Families will quarrel. Sometimes plates can fly. And children bring headaches. I don’t want to speak about mothers-in-law. But in families, there is always light.

"In the family, there are indeed difficulties. But those difficulties are overcome with love. Hatred is not capable of dealing with any difficulty, and overcoming any difficulty. Division of hearts cannot overcome any difficulty. Only love is able to overcome.

"Family is beautiful, but there’s effort involved, and there are problems. Husbands and wives quarrel, and end up badly, separated. Never let the day end without making peace. Let’s protect the family, because it’s in the family that our future is at play."

Before the pope's talk, he heard the testimonials of families from around the world. An engaged couple from Australia discussed their struggles with chastity and their fears of marriage. A Ukranian mother with a son with cerebral palsey talked about how her faith provided inspiration, and helped her raise her son. American grandparents talked about the role of grandparents in teaching their children to be good parents. 

After each testimonial, Pope Francis approached the family and spoke to them, shook their hands and gave them kisses. He hugged the boy in the wheelchair with cerebral palsey. And at the final event of the Pope's fifth day in the United States, the focus was clear: The importance of faith in family.

In between the testimonials, musicians sang, dancers danced and Mark Wahlberg served as the Master of Ceremonies. 

"All that is beautiful, all that is beautiful, all that is beautiful leads us to god," Francis said, thanking those who performed at the event. "Because God is good, God is beautiful, God is good."

Earlier in the day, Pope Francis celebrated Mass, gave an important speech on immigration and religious freedom at Independence Hall, kissed numerous babies and blessed many more.

The event caps the fifth day of a whirlwind six-day U.S. trip in which Pope Francis has visited the White House, addressed a joint session of Congress, participated in a multi-religious service at Ground Zero and addressed world leaders at the United Nation's General Assembly.

The Pope took yet another trip in his "Popemobile" en route to the festival, but this time the inside of the partially enclosed dome was lit so those standing in the Philly twilight could get a good look at the spiritual leader.  

Once at the festival, he was greeted by the thousands of people who have been dealing with strict security measures all day for a chance to catch a glimpse of him. Many people were still trying to get past security lines as the Popemobile was slowly making its way through Philly's streets.

After waving to the crowds, he arrived on stage, where he is watching the show and listening to the testimonies. He will then give a speech in both English and Spanish and provide a blessing in front of the crowd.

Numerous celebrities and musicians are expected to be involved in the night's festivities, including host Mark Wahlberg, Juanes and Andrea Bocelli.

Singer/songwriter Marie Miller performed while being accompanied by the Pennsylvania Ballet, as did The Fray.

 With Pope Francis sitting up in his chair on stage and listening intently, the "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin, performed a stunning edition of "Amazing Grace" with a choir behind her that drew large cheers from the crowd. As she finished her rendition and exited stage right, she caught the Holy Spirit and did a bit of a praise dance.

Some of the early performers who took the stage before the pope arrived included singer Jackie Evancho and comedian Jim Gaffigan.

Pope Francis’ Philadelphia visit – with its closed and detoured roads and barricades – isn’t yielding great business for some city restaurants.

City restaurateurs from Old City to Rittenhouse Squares said that business has been slow all week and even specials couldn't bring in the crowds.

"This affected business worse than Hurricane Sandy,” restaurateur Stephen Starr told Philly.com. "The city scared all of our customers away. We have virtually no reservations. This is unnecessary overkill. What should have been a feeling of family and community was turned into a police and military operation."

The crowd on Saturday is the worst in decades, said the manager of Sahara Grill on Walnut Street in Center City.

"On a day like this we’re usually really busy, especially around dinner time, said Sahara Grill manager Mohammed. "It’s been lousy. It’s worse than one of our worse Saturdays days here. Eighteen years we’ve been here and it’s the slowest Saturday I’ve seen. I blame it on the City. They put too many restrictions, so people can’t get here whether their walking or biking or driving. We’re not going to close; it is what it is. We’re going to take it as it comes."

It wasn't much better at Bridgewater's Pub in 30th Street Station where security measures drove crowds away.

"It has been awful, said Bridgewater's owner Leslie Spellman. "I think it starts with security not allowing any egress into the food court starting early this morning. It’s almost as though they want to get people to come down the ramp from the train and go right outside. It’s ridiculous. In my opinion, the city has done the worst job with this whole thing because they have scared everybody away. Business has been pretty good for us lately, but for the past couple of days, it’s been a ghost town. The night is almost over and we’re about at about a third less than we would normally do on a Saturday."

Restaurants in various parts of the city saw small crowds.

"We have been much slower than normal," said Pat, a longtime server at Audrey Claire at 20th and Spruce streets in Rittenhouse. "This is actually the slowest Saturday I’ve ever seen and I’ve been here for six years. We had a special menu and streamlined our serving process because we anticipated the volume and there was no volume. I guess folks are sort of concentrated around two places, Independence Mall and the Parkway, so they just didn’t make it up here. I’m sure places around there were busier than we were.”

Some eateries even sent employees home.

"It’s just been very slow," said Indra Bumtsetseg, floor manager, of Bleu Martini in Old City. "We didn’t get anybody because they closed down all the streets too early. We are offering specials but nobody’s really on the street to come in. Most of our customers would be driving in from out of town; we usually don’t get many locals. It’s bad but I guess it’s a one-time thing, so we’ll get through it. We sent most of our employees home but we will be open through the rest of the weekend."

The city opened up a Business Resource Center ahead off the papal visit after various eateries and other businesses raised concerns about closures.

Dianne Zalack knows she won't make it to Rome in her lifetime -- so seeing Pope Francis during his historic visit to Philadelphia is the next best thing.

Zalack, along with her husband, two daughters and son-in-law, staked out a prime position for Pope Francis' evening parade through Philadelphia's streets at 9 am. The family -- who traveled to Philadelphia from Cleveland -- posted up right on the gates at 16th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Some 10 hours later, the jubilant moment they'd been waiting for came. Pope Francis, decked out in his white vestments, rode by on his Popemobile -- a white Jeep Wrangler -- and waved to cheering crowds. The excitement was contagious as hundreds of people cheered, waved and snapped pictures of the Holy Father.

"It was worth every second!" an emotional Zalack said joyously minutes after the Pope passed by.

Zalack, 71, was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer 15 years ago. Doctors gave her two years to live.

"It's kind of on my bucket list to see the Pope," Zalack said Saturday afternoon as she waited with her family. "I knew we would never get to Rome, so this is the next best thing."

Zalack and her husband of 52 years, Richard Zalack, said they decided in April that no matter what, they'd be in Philly to see the Pope. They booked non-refundable flight tickets from Cleveland and a hotel room, and coordinated with two of three of their daughters to come as a family.

Living to see this day despite her grim prognosis more than a decade ago is nothing short of a miracle for Dianne Zalack. She said her faith in God and her family helped her through--but she's still battling the disease today.

"It's everything to see the Pope," the woman said. "I've been crying all day long. We went through security and we were all crying."

Philadelphia has a new brother in Pope Francis, as he ventured into the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday to preach his message of religious joy, kindness and acceptance of others. Though he had a busy schedule, he let his sunny personality shine like the sundogs above (for more on that, see below), while blessing children everywhere he went.  

There were moments that even Rocky couldn't shake a fist at. Here are some of our favorite #PopeinPhilly moments:

Francis Blesses Boy With Disabilities

When he landed in Philadelphia, Francis got into his Fiat as if he was ready to drive away – only to get out of the car and bless a child with cerebral palsy, whose mother was touched beyond speaking. Read more >>

Pope Kisses Babies

As Francis arrived at Independence Hall, two tiny babies were hoisted up in the air in front of his popemobile. He gave each a gentle kiss. 

Pope Speaks From Lincoln's Lecturn at Independence Hall 

As the Pope shared a message of hope for immigrants in front of Independence Mall, he stood at the very same lecturn that President Abraham Lincoln used as he delivered the Gettysburg Address. "Don't be ashamed," Francis said to immigrants. Read More >>

Sundog: Rainbow Colored Light Follows Pope Francis

Were rainbows following the pope from New York to Philly? Social media images of rainbows were shared in both cities. But it turns out the beams of rainbow-colored light are called a sundog and caused by the sunlight refracting in the ice crystals of cirrus clouds, which were over New York Friday and Philly Saturday. 

'Happy Birthday' to a Bishop

We all know it doesn't take much to make the Speaker cry. But these tears have extra resonance when you consider that Boehner, a former altar boy, has worked for years to get a Pope to visit the Capitol. Read more >>

Then there were all the best moments from Francis' time in D.C. and New York.

First of all, I want to thank the families who were willing to share their life stories with us. Thank you for your witness! It is always a gift to listen to families share their life experiences; it touches our hearts. We feel that they speak to us about things that are very personal and unique, which in some way involve all of us. In listening to their experiences, we can feel ourselves drawn in, challenged as married couples and parents, as children, brothers and sisters, and grandparents.

As I was listening, I was thinking how important it is for us to share our home life and to help one another in this marvelous and challenging task of “being a family”.

Being with you makes me think of one of the most beautiful mysteries of our Christian faith. God did not want to come into the world other than through a family. God did not want to draw near to humanity other than through a home. God did not want any other name for himself than Emmanuel (cf. Mt 1:23). He is “God with us”. This was his desire from the beginning, his purpose, his constant effort: to say to us: “I am God with you, I am God for you”. He is the God who from the very beginning of creation said: “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen 2:18). We can add: it is not good for woman to be alone, it is not good for children, the elderly or the young to be alone. It is not good. That is why a man leaves his father and mother, and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh (cf. Gen 2:24). The two are meant to be a home, a family.

From time immemorial, in the depths of our heart, we have heard those powerful words: it is not good for you to be alone. The family is the great blessing, the great gift of this “God with us”, who did not want to abandon us to the solitude of a life without others, without challenges, without a home.
God does not dream by himself, he tries to do everything “with us”. His dream constantly comes true in the dreams of many couples who work to make their life that of a family.
That is why the family is the living symbol of the loving plan of which the Father once dreamed. To want to form a family is to resolve to be a part of God’s dream, to choose to dream with him, to want to build with him, to join him in this saga of building a world where no one will feel alone, unwanted or homeless.

As Christians, we appreciate the beauty of the family and of family life as the place where we come to learn the meaning and value of human relationships. We learn that “to love someone is not just a strong feeling – it is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise” (Erich Fromm, The Art of Loving). We learn to stake everything on another person, and we learn that it is worth it.

Jesus was not a confirmed bachelor, far from it! He took the Church as his bride, and made her a people of his own. He laid down his life for those he loved, so that his bride, the Church, could always know that he is God with us, his people, his family. We cannot understand Christ without his Church, just as we cannot understand the Church without her spouse, Christ Jesus, who gave his life out of love, and who makes us see that it is worth the price.

Laying down one’s life out of love is not easy. As with the Master, “staking everything” can sometimes involve the cross. Times when everything seems uphill. I think of all those parents, all those families who lack employment or workers’ rights, and how this is a true cross. How many sacrifices they make to earn their daily bread! It is understandable that, when these parents return home, they are so weary that they cannot give their best to their children.

I think of all those families which lack housing or live in overcrowded conditions. Families which lack the basics to be able to build bonds of closeness, security and protection from troubles of any kind.
I think of all those families which lack access to basic health services. Families which, when faced with medical problems, especially those of their younger or older members, are dependent on a system which fails to meet their needs, is insensitive to their pain, and forces them to make great sacrifices to receive adequate treatment.

We cannot call any society healthy when it does not leave real room for family life. We cannot think that a society has a future when it fails to pass laws capable of protecting families and ensuring their basic needs, especially those of families just starting out. How many problems would be solved if our societies protected families and provided households, especially those of recently married couples, with the possibility of dignified work, housing and healthcare services to accompany them throughout life.

God’s dream does not change; it remains intact and it invites us to work for a society which supports families. A society where bread, “fruit of the earth and the work of human hands” continues to be put on the table of every home, to nourish the hope of its children.
Let us help one another to make it possible to “stake everything on love”. Let us help one another at times of difficulty and lighten each other’s burdens. Let us support one another. Let us be families which are a support for other families.

Perfect families do not exist. This must not discourage us. Quite the opposite. Love is something we learn; love is something we live; love grows as it is “forged” by the concrete situations which each particular family experiences. Love is born and constantly develops amid lights and shadows. Love can flourish in men and women who try not to make conflict the last word, but rather a new opportunity. An opportunity to seek help, an opportunity to question how we need to improve, an opportunity to discover the God who is with us and never abandons us. This is a great legacy that we can give to our children, a very good lesson: we make mistakes, yes; we have problems, yes. But we know that that is not really what counts. We know that mistakes, problems and conflicts are an opportunity to draw closer to others, to draw closer to God.

This evening we have come together to pray, to pray as a family, to make our homes the joyful face of the Church. To meet that God who did not want to come into our world in any other way than through a family. To meet “God with us”, the God who is always in our midst.

If there’s one crutch that out-of-towners always lean on to take a jab at Philadelphia, it typically seems to involve two subjects: Santa and snow balls.

During the World Meeting of Families in front of the Art Museum Saturday night, comedian Jim Gaffigan took that route and the crowd responded with a chorus of boos.

Gaffigan, born in Illinois, warmed-up the crowd as part of the festivities.

Gaffigan at first complimented Philadelphia and its love for the Pope.

“Philadelphia really stepping up. An amazing event they’re hosting here and you know, Philadelphia loves the Pope. Philadelphia loves the Pope. It’s amazing," Gaffigan said.

But then he went in for the jab and struck a nerve.

"I wasn’t worried that Philadelphia wasn’t going to love the Pope, but let’s just say Philadelphia was not too nice to Santa Claus. So … are they booing me or Santa Claus? The Santa Claus … it stays. There’s still problems with Santa Claus.”

Some of the generally subdued crowd did not appreciate Gaffigan’s joke and broke out the "boo birds."

The Santa Claus and snow balls joke refers to the time back in 1968 when a replacement Santa was pelted with snow balls during an Eagles game at Franklin Field. The facts behind the true reason why Santa was hit with snow balls has always been twisted throughout time.

Editor's Note: Pope Francis departed from his prepared text at the beginning of his address. Here is a translation of those remarks.

I carry in my heart the stories, the suffering and the pain of the minors that have been sexually abused by priests. I’m overwhelmed by the shame that people who were in charged of caring for those young ones raped them and caused them great damages. I regret this profoundly. God cries! The crimes and sins of the sexual abuse to minors can't be kept a secret anymore. I commit to the zealous oversight of the Church to protect minors, and I promise that everyone responsible will be held accountable. You, they, the survivors of abuse have become real heralds of hope and ministers of mercy. Humbly we owe each one of them and their families our gratitude for their immense courage for making the light of Christ shine over the evil of minor sexual abuse. I say this because I have just met by a group of people who where abused when they were children, that are helped and accompanied here in Philadelphia, with a especial care from Monsignor Chaput.
 

Prepared Remarks:

Dear Brother Bishops,
I am happy to be able to share these moments of pastoral reflection with you, amid the joyful celebrations for the World Meeting of Families.

For the Church, the family is not first and foremost a cause for concern, but rather the joyous confirmation of God’s blessing upon the masterpiece of creation. Every day, all over the world, the Church can rejoice in the Lord’s gift of so many families who, even amid difficult trials, remain faithful to their promises and keep the faith!

I would say that the foremost pastoral challenge of our changing times is to move decisively towards recognizing this gift. For all the obstacles we see before us, gratitude and appreciation should prevail over concerns and complaints. The family is the fundamental locus of the covenant between the Church and God’s creation. Without the family, not even the Church would exist. Nor could she be what she is called to be, namely “a sign and instrument of communion with God and of the unity of the entire human race” (Lumen Gentium, 1).

Needless to say, our understanding, shaped by the interplay of ecclesial faith and the conjugal experience of sacramental grace, must not lead us to disregard the unprecedented changes taking place in contemporary society, with their social, cultural – and now juridical – effects on family bonds. These changes affect all of us, believers and non-believers alike. Christians are not “immune” to the changes of their times. This concrete world, with all its many problems and possibilities, is where we must live, believe and proclaim.

Until recently, we lived in a social context where the similarities between the civil institution of marriage and the Christian sacrament were considerable and shared. The two were interrelated and mutually supportive. This is no longer the case. To describe our situation today, I would use two familiar images: our neighborhood stores and our large supermarkets.

There was a time when one neighborhood store had everything one needed for personal and family life. The products may not have been cleverly displayed, or offered much choice, but there was a personal bond between the shopkeeper and his customers. Business was done on the basis of trust, people knew one another, they were all neighbors. They trusted one another. They built up trust. These stores were often simply known as “the local market”.

Then a different kind of store grew up: the supermarket. Huge spaces with a great selection of merchandise. The world seems to have become one of these great supermarkets; our culture has become more and more competitive. Business is no longer conducted on the basis of trust; others can no longer be trusted. There are no longer close personal relationships. Today’s culture seems to encourage people not to bond with anything or anyone, not to trust. The most important thing nowadays seems to be follow the latest trend or activity. This is even true of religion. Today consumerism determines what is important. Consuming relationships, consuming friendships, consuming religions, consuming, consuming... Whatever the cost or consequences. A consumption which does not favor bonding, a consumption which has little to do with human relationships. Social bonds are a mere “means” for the satisfaction of “my needs”. The important thing is no longer our neighbor, with his or her familiar face, story and personality.

The result is a culture which discards everything that is no longer “useful” or “satisfying” for the tastes of the consumer. We have turned our society into a huge multicultural showcase tied only to the tastes of certain “consumers”, while so many others only “eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (Mt 15:27).

This causes great harm. I would say that at the root of so many contemporary situations is a kind of impoverishment born of a widespread and radical sense of loneliness. Running after the latest fad, accumulating “friends” on one of the social networks, we get caught up in what contemporary society has to offer. Loneliness with fear of commitment in a limitless effort to feel recognized.

Should we blame our young people for having grown up in this kind of society? Should we condemn them for living in this kind of a world? Should they hear their pastors saying that “it was all better back then”, “the world is falling apart and if things go on this way, who knows where we will end up?” No, I do not think that this is the way. As shepherds following in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd, we are asked to seek out, to accompany, to lift up, to bind up the wounds of our time. To look at things realistically, with the eyes of one who feels called to action, to pastoral conversion. The world today demands this conversion on our part. “It is vitally important for the Church today to go forth and preach the Gospel to all: to all places, on all occasions, without hesitation, reluctance or fear. The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can be excluded” (Evangelii Gaudium, 23)

We would be mistaken, however, to see this “culture” of the present world as mere indifference towards marriage and the family, as pure and simple selfishness. Are today’s young people hopelessly timid, weak, inconsistent? We must not fall into this trap.

Many young people, in the context of this culture of discouragement, have yielded to a form of unconscious acquiescence. They are paralyzed when they encounter the beautiful, noble and truly necessary challenges which faith sets before them. Many put off marriage while waiting for ideal conditions, when everything can be perfect. Meanwhile, life goes on, without really being lived to the full. For knowledge of life’s true pleasures only comes as the fruit of a long-term, generous investment of our intelligence, enthusiasm and passion.

As pastors, we bishops are called to collect our energies and to rebuild enthusiasm for making families correspond ever more fully to the blessing of God which they are! We need to invest our energies not so much in rehearsing the problems of the world around us and the merits of Christianity, but in extending a sincere invitation to young people to be brave and to opt for marriage and the family. Here too, we need a bit of holy parrhesia!

A Christianity which “does” little in practice, while incessantly “explaining” its teachings, is dangerously unbalanced. I would even say that it is stuck in a vicious circle. A pastor must show that the “Gospel of the family” is truly “good news” in a world where self-concern seems to reign supreme! We are not speaking about some romantic dream: the perseverance which is called for in having a family and raising it transforms the world and human history.

A pastor serenely yet passionately proclaims the word of God. He encourages believers to aim high. He will enable his brothers and sisters to hear and experience God’s promise, which can expand their experience of motherhood and fatherhood within the horizon of a new “familiarity” with God (Mk 3:31-35).
A pastor watches over the dreams, the lives and the growth of his flock. This “watchfulness” is not the result of talking but of shepherding. Only one capable of standing “in the midst of” the flock can be watchful, not someone who is afraid of questions, contact, accompaniment. A pastor keeps watch first and foremost with prayer, supporting the faith of his people and instilling confidence in the Lord, in his presence. A pastor remains vigilant by helping people to lift their gaze at times of discouragement, frustration and failure. We might well ask whether in our pastoral ministry we are ready to “waste” time with families. Whether we are ready to be present to them, sharing their difficulties and joys.

Naturally, experiencing the spirit of this joyful familiarity with God, and spreading its powerful evangelical fruitfulness, has to be the primary feature of our lifestyle as bishops: a lifestyle of prayer and preaching the Gospel (Acts 6:4). By our own humble Christian apprenticeship in the familial virtues of God’s people, we will become more and more like fathers and mothers (as did Saint Paul: cf. 1 Th 2:7,11), and less like people who have simply learned to live without a family.

Our ideal is not to live without love! A good pastor renounces the love of a family precisely in order to focus all his energies, and the grace of his particular vocation, on the evangelical blessing of the love of men and women who carry forward God’s plan of creation, beginning with those who are lost, abandoned, wounded, broken, downtrodden and deprived of their dignity. This total surrender to God’s agape is certainly not a vocation lacking in tenderness and affection! We need but look to Jesus to understand this (cf. Mt 19:12).

The mission of a good pastor, in the style of God – and only God can authorize this, not our own presumption! – imitates in every way and for all people the Son’s love for the Father. This is reflected in the tenderness with which a pastor devotes himself to the loving care of the men and women of our human family.

For the eyes of faith, this is a most valuable sign. Our ministry needs to deepen the covenant between the Church and the family. Otherwise it becomes arid, and the human family will grow irremediably distant, by our own fault, from God’s joyful good news.

If we prove capable of the demanding task of reflecting God’s love, cultivating infinite patience and serenity as we strive to sow its seeds in the frequently crooked furrows in which we are called to plant, then even a Samaritan woman with five “non-husbands” will discover that she is capable of giving witness.

And for every rich young man who with sadness feels that he has to calmly keep considering the matter, an older publican will come down from the tree and give fourfold to the poor, to whom, before that moment, he had never even given a thought.

May God grant us this gift of a renewed closeness between the family and the Church. The family is our ally, our window to the world, and the evidence of an irrevocable blessing of God destined for all the children who in every age are born into this difficult yet beautiful creation which God has asked us to serve!

Pope Francis dominated social media throughout the duration of his whirlwind United States tour. As Francis made stops in Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia, he met with the homeless and world leaders, shared with seminarians that "God weeps" for victims of sexual abuse, visited prisoners and spoke from a lectern used by President Abraham Lincoln at Independence Hall. The pope's five day schedule was nonstop. 

Pilgrims lined the streets with smartphones and posted to social media about rainbow sightings in New York and Philadelphia. Those colorful bursts of light turned out to be sundogs.

After several parades in his popemobile, Francis rounded the streets of Philadelphia to conclude the 2015 World Meeting of Families for his last then celebrated an outdoor Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with nearly 1 million of the faithful.

Here are the top 10 social media moments along the #PopeinUS journey:

10. Pope Addresses World Leaders at the United Nations General Assembly

Pope Francis spoke on the problems facing humanity, including saving the environment and putting down nuclear weapons. "Any harm done to the environment, therefore, is harm done to humanity," he said.

9. Pope Kisses, Blesses Babies

The pontiff was generous with his kisses along his parade routes. As Francis arrived at Independence Hall, two tiny babies were hoisted up in the air in front of his popemobile. He gave each a gentle kiss. 

8. Pope Makes House Speaker John Boehner Cry in Congress

7. Francis Meets Bo and Sunny at the White House

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama and a meeting at the White House would not be complete without the opportunity to meet presidential pooches Bo and Sunny. 

6. Girl Runs From Barrier, Delivers Love Letter to Pope

A little girl makes her way through the crowd to reach the pope in Washington, D.C. to deliver a T-shirt and a handmade card that said, "My friends and I love each other regardless of the color of our skin." 

5. Stealing Selfies With His Holiness

A young girl wearing braids beams as steals a selfie moment with Pope Francis in Washington. 

4. Francis Leaves Flower at 9/11 Memorial

"Here, grief is palpable. This is a place where we cry," Francis said after placing a white rose at the 9/11 memorial. 

3. Girl in Wheelchair Blessed by Pope: "I Will Walk Again"

Francis was welcomed with cheers and chants as he arrived at JFK Airport in New York City. He approached and blessed Brooklyn teen Julia Buzzese who is confined to a wheelchair.  "It means that he's going to give me a miracle, to walk again," Buzzese said, crying. "I know I will walk again because of him."

2. #PopeFiat Mania

Pope Francis exited his plane at JFK Airport, was greeted by chants from the crowd and then not long after, he headed toward his ride -- a Fiat 500. Social media went into an uproar as the small vehicle was surrounded by an entourage of SUVs. The pope's arm emerged from the Fiat's passenger rear door, waiving to cheers. 

1. Pope Celebrates Mass With Nearly 1 Million People in Philadelphia

The finale of the 2015 World Meeting of Families was an outdoor Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. An estimated 860,000 people were in attendance as Francis praised the "little gestures” of daily life that he said not only are tied to happiness but also holiness.

Here are all the best moments from Francis' visits to D.C., New York and Philadelphia. 

While a petition worked its way around the Internet last month for Pope Francis to bless Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford’s knees, one local fan was hoping that the pontiff could help out the entire team.

“I’m not gonna say ‘divine intervention' — but it certainly can’t hurt!” said Arthur Manos.

The Folcroft native nailed a sign into the ground on Friday afternoon, one that he hoped would be visible to Francis on his trip to Center City from the airport.

“My intention was to be down there holding the sign, but with what’s going on that was completely out of the question,” Manos said.

The sign, located next to a telephone pole at an on-ramp from the airport to I-95, states “God Bless Pope Francis! God Bless America! Pope Francis, Bless our E-A-G-L-E-S!”

“When I was mounting it, state troopers came up to me and said that as long as there’s nothing derogatory or wrong, it could stay up,” Manos said.

Manos noted that he came back to the site late Friday night before closures went into effect, and was tempted to move the sign because it’s a lesser-used ramp.

“I wasn’t sure they’d drive by that way,” said Manos. “It’s not a highly trafficked area. It used to be the only on-ramp to 95, but not anymore.”

Workers at stores nearby confirmed that Francis’ motorcade did in fact drive by the sign.

Manos, who says he’s Greek Orthodox but has been excited for the papal visit regardless, was inspired by his meeting with Pope John Paul II in 1979. He was driving near the Girard Point Bridge on I-95, when he approached the papal motorcade on the highway. Back then, the roads were never completely shut down.

Manos says he and a friend were waved ahead by a police officer, and while passing the motorcade, they saw Pope John Paul II in a limo, who blessed the two of them as they drove by at 35 MPH. Manos was hoping Pope Francis could help out the entire city with a blessing for Philadelphia’s football team.

“I put the sign right before the curve where they have to slow down, so he definitely saw it,” the diehard Eagles fan said. “I know soccer is his favorite sport, but I figured someone he’s with would be able to tell him who the team is and why they need help.”

Nevertheless, Manos still expects a victory from the Birds on Sunday.

“You know, honestly, I think they’ll win," he said. "I sure as hell hope they win.”

The following is the prepared text of Pope Francis' speech to inmates at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in northeast Philadelphia on Sunday:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you for receiving me and giving me the opportunity to be here with you and to share this time in your lives. It is a difficult time, one full of struggles. I know it is a painful time not only for you, but also for your families and for all of society. Any society, any family, which cannot share or take seriously the pain of its children, and views that pain as something normal or to be expected, is a society “condemned” to remain a hostage to itself, prey to the very things which cause that pain. I am here as a pastor, but above all as a brother, to share your situation and to make it my own. I have come so that we can pray together and offer our God everything that causes us pain, but also everything that gives us hope, so that we can receive from him the power of the resurrection.

I think of the Gospel scene where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. This was something his disciples found hard to accept. Even Peter refused, and told him: “You will never wash my feet” (Jn 13:8).

In those days, it was the custom to wash someone’s feet when they came to your home. That was how they welcomed people. The roads were not paved, they were covered with dust, and little stones would get stuck in your sandals. Everyone walked those roads, which left their feet dusty, bruised or cut from those stones. That is why we see Jesus washing feet, our feet, the feet of his disciples, then and now.

Life is a journey, along different roads, different paths, which leave their mark on us.

We know in faith that Jesus seeks us out. He wants to heal our wounds, to soothe our feet which hurt from travelling alone, to wash each of us clean of the dust from our journey. He doesn’t ask us where we have been, he doesn’t question us what about we have done. Rather, he tells us: “Unless I wash your feet, you have no share with me” (Jn 13:8). Unless I wash your feet, I will not be able to give you the life which the Father always dreamed of, the life for which he created you. Jesus comes to meet us, so that he can restore our dignity as children of God. He wants to help us to set out again, to resume our journey, to recover our hope, to restore our faith and trust. He wants us to keep walking along the paths of life, to realize that we have a mission, and that confinement is not the same thing as exclusion.

Life means “getting our feet dirty” from the dust-filled roads of life and history. All of us need to be cleansed, to be washed. All of us are being sought out by the Teacher, who wants to help us resume our journey. The Lord goes in search of us; to all of us he stretches out a helping hand. It is painful when we see prison systems which are not concerned to care for wounds, to soothe pain, to offer new possibilities. It is painful when we see people who think that only others need to be cleansed, purified, and do not recognize that their weariness, pain and wounds are also the weariness, pain and wounds of society. The Lord tells us this clearly with a sign: he washes our feet so we can come back to the table. The table from which he wishes no one to be excluded. The table which is spread for all and to which all of us are invited.

This time in your life can only have one purpose: to give you a hand in getting back on the right road, to give you a hand to help you rejoin society. All of us are part of that effort, all of us are invited to encourage, help and enable your rehabilitation. A rehabilitation which everyone seeks and desires: inmates and their families, correctional authorities, social and educational programs. A rehabilitation which benefits and elevates the morale of the entire community.

Jesus invites us to share in his lot, his way of living and acting. He teaches us to see the world through his eyes. Eyes which are not scandalized by the dust picked up along the way, but want to cleanse, heal and restore. He asks us to create new opportunities: for inmates, for their families, for correctional authorities, and for society as a whole.

I encourage you to have this attitude with one another and with all those who in any way are part of this institution. May you make possible new opportunities, new journeys, new paths.

All of us have something we need to be cleansed of, or purified from. May the knowledge of that fact inspire us to live in solidarity, to support one another and seek the best for others.

Let us look to Jesus, who washes our feet. He is “the way, and the truth, and the life”. He comes to save us from the lie that says no one can change. He helps us to journey along the paths of life and fulfillment. May the power of his love and his resurrection always be a path leading you to new life.

Nearly 50 Seminarians in town for Pope Francis’ visit sampled one of the foods Philadelphia is famous for.

Forty eight Seminarians stopped by Nick's Roast Beef Bar and Grille in Old City on Saturday afternoon.

When in Philly, you have to order a cheesesteak, right? Well, that’s exactly what all 48 Seminarians did.

Nick’s owner Joseph Schultice referred to the group as the “greatest bunch of folks ever” and said they were a pleasure to speak with. The Seminarians were from all different parts of the world.

The leader of the Seminarians asked Schultice to make a speech about Nick’s and its history. Afterwards, he was presented with a cross to hang inside the business.

The Seminarians ate their cheesesteaks, socialized and left after about an hour.

Pope Francis will be in Philadelphia September 26 and 27 for the World Meeting of Families. To help you out, we've created this page to aid with some questions you might have regarding travel, closures, timing, etc.

Many of the answers to these FAQs are quick-hits; for full answers, links are provided as well.

What security restrictions and closures do I need to know about?

The bulk of closures will take place on Friday night and continue to get more restrictive throughout the weekend. No-parking zones expanded throughout the week.

We've put together a full day-by-day breakdown and timeline of what's closing when for the papal visit.

Which roads will be closed during the Papal visit?

Beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, September 25, the following highways were closed:

I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) eastbound from I-476 (Blue Route) to I-95
I-76 westbound from I-95 to Route 1
I-676 (Vine Street Expressway) in both directions from I-76 to I-95

These roads are expected to be open again by noon on Monday, Sept. 28.

On Saturday morning at 6 a.m., US Route 1 from Route 30 to Belmont Ave will close. It will reopen after 10 p.m. and then be shut down again on Sunday morning at 7 a.m. through the afternoon.

MORE COVERAGE:

• When roads are closing
• How to get around the road closures

I'm not planning on attending any WMOF events. Will other places around the city still be open?

Yes. While some places have rescheduled some events (Union Transfer moved the dates for a few of their concerts), the city is not shutting down completely. The Philadelphia Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation will both close for the weekend of Pope Francis' visit, but will be open during the WMOF congress. The Barnes will have extended hours (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) from September 21-25, and the Museum of Art will stay open until 8:45 on September 23, with discounted admission as well.

The Philadelphia Zoo will be closed that weekend, but they are also hosting many visitors, including a church congregation from Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital will also remain open during the Papal visit. Public safety officers will be located at 38th Street to assist people traveling to the hospital with pets.

Even if you're not planning on leaving the house, there are still preparations to be made. NBC10's Lauren Mayk has the latest on filling out your Pope Checklist.

[[328397731, C]]

Who are some of the big names that will be performing during the Papal Weekend?

Actor Mark Wahlberg will host The Festival of Families with Pope Francis in Philadelphia. Aretha Franklin, The Fray, Jim Gaffigan, Marie Miller, Andrea Bocelli, Juanes and the Philadelphia Orchestra will also perform. Read more on Mark Wahlberg here.

I'm traveling to Philadelphia and don't know much about area roads and how to get around the city. Where can I go for more information about travel?

Governor Tom Wolf announced that PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike launched a much needed detailed travelers' website to assist people traveling to see the Pope. The site's homepage gives you options to view information on real-time traffic conditions for the highways in the Philadelphia region, how to get to and around the Papal venues. Also the pages on the inside will give visitors health tips and information for street and highway closings.

How can I get information should an emergency arise?

NBC10.com and the NBC10 app will provide up to the minute information as news breaks. The NBC10 app will provide news alerts pushed to your mobile device.

The City of Philadelphia is also providing text message alerts through the Office of Emergency Management. You can enroll in this service by texting "papalvisit" to 888777. Again these alerts wil be sent out by the city.

Will schools be closed during the Papal visit?

Yes, Philadelphia public schools will be closed on Wednesday, September 23 for Yom Kippur and Thursday, Friday and Monday, September 24, 25 and 28 for the Papal visit.

Catholic schools are closed Wednesday, September 23 through Friday September 25.

Many area colleges and universities are also closed for the Papal visit.

What other services will be impacted during the Papal visit?

UPS has announced delivery service interruptions Friday and Saturday of the Papal visit in Philadelphia.

Megabus warned riders to plan for delays during the Papal visit.

The United States Postal Service is suspending mail collection and delivery in eight Philadelphia postal codes on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27 during the papal visit.

Curbside trash and recycling collections will be suspended Friday, September 25 and Monday, September 28 cityside, according to the City of Philadelphia.

I got tickets and will be going to an event! What items aren't allowed?

Relatively strict security measures are in place, which ban selfies sticks, laser pointers, bikes, drones, and various other items. Bags can be no larger than 18 inches x 13 inches x 7 inches, and no pets will be permitted outside of service animals.

A full list of prohibited items can be found here.

[[324029291, C]]

I don't have tickets for an event but want to watch. Where can I go?

There are 40 jumbotrons that will be set up throughout the city to allow everyone an opportunity to see the events unfold. Some are located near or on the Ben Franklin Parkway, but there will be many set up near City Hall and Independence Hall.

Click here for exact locations of the jumbotrons.

I want to buy Pope gear while I'm in town as a souvenir. Where can I buy some merchandise?

Aramark, the official merchandise provider for Pope Francis' visit during the World Meeting of Families, will celebrate its new pop-up Pope shop in the lobby of its headquarters at 11th and Market streets in Center City Philadelphia. It is currently open and will remain open throughout the Pope's visit.

How will the suburbs be affected by the influx of people?

Thousands of people will be boarding Regional Rail stations in the suburbs, causing major traffic delays in Radnor and Fort Washington, among others. Emergency vehicles will be roving around Montgomery County ready to respond to any backups or emergency situations. There may also be food and water supplied locally for people who may be stuck for up to hours.

State police will also be flying in helicopters to assist people if necessary.

Individual towns and counties may make announcements of their own, so stay tuned to your local area announcements for the latest on how you may be affected.

I live in New Jersey. How can I get into Philadelphia to see Pope Francis?

The Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed to vehicles starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, September 25, but it will be open to pedestrians. Bike riders will also be allowed to cross the bridge, but they will have to walk their bikes across.

NBC10's Matt DeLucia walked the bridge in August and gave us some information about the Bridge's function during the pontiff's visit.

The RiverLink Ferry will also be open and taking passengers from Camden to Philadelphia, with extended hours during Pope Francis' visit on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $7 and will be sold online.

PATCO will also be running trains in from South Jersey, and tickets are expected to be available at stations during the weekend. More information on travel from New Jersey can be found here.

Okay, once I get into the city, how do I get around?

Organizers have been saying for months that public transit is the way to go to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia. SEPTA has announced increases to the number of passes and parking spots along their routes. Every SEPTA stop is within two miles of Logan Circle.

There are also 3-day passes available for just $10, which will allow you to travel on subways, buses and trolleys from Saturday September 26 to Monday, September 28.

For a full diagram or to buy tickets, visit SEPTA's website.

Certain cabs have been given permission to drive around in the designated pope zone as well, and Philadelphia's bike share program Indego will be available so people can rent bikes within the blocked off areas.

I have a question that wasn't answered here. Who should I ask?

The Papal Visit Playbook has these answers and much more on the World Meeting of Families website.

Wait times at security checkpoints for the Papal Mass along the Ben Franklin Parkway are about an hour or more depending on the checkpoint, a senior law enforcement official confirmed to NBC News.

Police also say some checkpoints are backed up for more than two blocks.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Secret Service sent a message telling pilgrims who planned to take their time to get to Sunday’s 4 p.m. Mass to stop waiting.

Many people took the Secret Service's advice and got in line but with tightened security checkpoints unable to let in large quantities of people, pilgrims were stuck waiting in long lines. NBC10's Lauren Mayk also reported that some people already walked over to a jumbotron around 2:30 p.m.

The longest lines seemed to be at checkpoints off 18th Street and JFK Parkway and 19th and Wood streets. Officials said its a personal decision which checkpoint pilgrims choose and that all remained open.

People waited for more than two hours in line without access to restrooms, reported NBC10's Randy Gyllenhaal.

The line at 18th and cherry is UNREAL #PopeInPhilly pic.twitter.com/1ef23fsf06

— Randy Gyllenhaal (@RandyGyllenhaal) September 27, 2015

Security detail told NBC10's Mitch Blacher that with so many people coming through that they could no longer check everyone's tickets.

"The security checkpoint at 20th & Callowhill streets, which was previously reserved for ticketed guests only, will now begin accepting both general public and ticketed guests to alleviate lines for the security checkpoint at 19th & Wood streets," said a statement from the Joint Information Center.

The Secret Service and partner security agencies encouraged attendees for the papal Mass Sunday to arrive early to "alleviate congestion" at the checkpoints.

[[329694461, C]]

“In order to ensure continued success for the public mass Pope Francis will celebrate on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this afternoon, officials are encouraging attendees to arrive at security checkpoints early,” said a release from the secret Service. “Arriving early will alleviate congestion at the magnetometers and speed entry to the secure perimeter.”

NBC10's Monique Braxton reported that 300 to 500 people could get through checkpoints at a time.

[[329695631, C]]

Lines at the checkpoints had already swelled before noon as people went through the slow process of entering secure areas. Some people even worried if they would make it through in time.

 

Waiting in line for security to get into the Papal Mass. Yikes. We have four hours and hope to make it!

A photo posted by Fr. Ubald Rugirangoga (@secretofpeace) on Sep 27, 2015 at 8:50am PDT

PATCO riders seemed to take heed of the Secret Service warning, spokesman Kyle Anderson said that ridership was up 40 percent by late Sunday morning compared to the same time Saturday.

[[329691271, C]]

SEPTA also dealt with heavy ridership especially on the Broad Street Line after busloads of people parked at the Stadium Complex then took the subway to Center City. Spokeswoman Jerri Williams said they could handle 1,000 passengers on the trains every three minutes.

SEPTA said that people could have an easier time home if they decide to go grab a bite a local restaurant and not immediately rush onto the train home since everyone could be leaving at the same time.

 

Waiting to clear security. A least 3 hour wait. #wmof2015 #Philadelphia #Philly #popeinphilly #popefrancis #security

A photo posted by Sean Kardon (@sckardon) on Sep 27, 2015 at 9:41am PDT