Preparations For A Pope: 2 Top Church Leaders In U.S. Discuss Papal Visit
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two top church leaders in the United States will accompany Pope Francis as he comes to this country next week for the first time, visiting Washington D.C., New York and Philadelphia.
Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington was in Philadelphia recently.
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He says while a meeting at the White House and a papal address to Congress, are certainly important, there is something much deeper happening because of this pope.
"People see in him a reason to come back to the practice of the faith. I'm seeing that all over the archdiocese," said Cardinal Wuerl.
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is a Pennsylvania native and studied for the priesthood here in Philadelphia.
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He says the pope's warmth and sincerity are helping him to win many hearts and minds.
"He has a capacity, I think, to cut through a lot of the layers of formality and to be himself," said Archbishop Kurtz.