Coast Guard out in force ahead of pope's Philadelphia visit

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Pope Francis will spend five days in Washington, New York and Philadelphia. And there are challenges of protecting a man who puts his safety in the hands of the Lord.

The U.S. Coast Guard is out in force in Philadelphia patrolling the Delaware River and ready to restrict boat traffic during the pope's visit.

Captain Benjamin Cooper took CBS News on patrol.

"We will have this area shut down. We will have coast guard vessels here," he said. "We will screen vessels, we'll intercept them. We'll escort them through once we determine they're safe."

From the water to the streets, planning and construction have been underway for about eight months. It is so detailed, that the secret service developed a 3D virtual map of every location the pope will visit.

Secret Service agents have traveled to the Vatican to study the pope's movements, says David Beach, the Secret Service agent who is in charge of all security in the city.

"This pope likes to get out and mingle, the Vatican folks I think wanted us to see that," Beach said. "And see how they worked to make sure that we would be able to accommodate that within reason. And you know, I believe we can."

Officials tell CBS News there is no credible threat against the pope, but they do remain concerned about so called "lone wolf" attacks as the pope travels through Philadelphia.

Mayor Michael Nutter says a million people may come to see the pope during his three outdoor events in the city.

They are taking the pope's visit very seriously.

"Through good screening, good intelligence gathering. And really paying attention to what's going on," Nutter said.

Security will also be tight for the pope's three day visit to Washington, D.C. Pope Francis will deliver his first outdoor mass at the National Basilica on Wednesday in front of an expected crowd of 25,000 people.