TV Exclusive: CBS 3 Speaks With Director Of U.S. Secret Service About Papal Visit
By Pat Ciarrocchi
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The director of the U.S. Secret Service spoke with CBS 3's Pat Ciarrocchi on Monday.
Ciarrocchi sat down with U.S. Secret Service Director Joe Clancy after reports the feds disrupted a security threat aimed at Pope Francis during his U.S. visit next week.
The threat against the pope was real and it was thwarted.
The director would not confirm if Philadelphia was the intended target for the attack.
But for Clancy, the pope is his protectee, and that is serious business.
"For a lot of folks in Philadelphia it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and for us it's an opportunity but also a serious mission," said Clancy.
The mission: protecting the Pope and the people during his 35 hours in Philadelphia.
"Our agents will know this Independence Hall maybe better than the Park Service," said Clancy.
Clancy, a Havertown native, walked with Ciarrocchi on Independence Mall.
Residents won't be allowed on rooftops, but agents will be.
"We would have our counter sniper units in place," said Clancy.
"And if they see something that is out of the ordinary, we have people that can respond very quickly. Obviously again we work closely with the Philadelphia Police Department."
It's that close cooperation with law enforcement agencies that Clancy credits with thwarting an identified U.S. threat against the pope.
(Ciarrocchi:) "Are you able to tell me whether that security threat against the Pope was targeted for Philadelphia?"
"I can't get into specifics of it Pat. I'm sorry," said Clancy.
Clancy could talk about learning from Francis' Vatican security detail accustomed now to his unscripted gestures.
"I have met him personally when I was in Rome. Obviously, he was very gracious," said Clancy.
(Ciarrocchi:) "What was that like for you?"
"I've been blessed that I have met Pope Benedict, and Pope John Paul before, so I've met Popes previously, but you know this is business too and we want to make sure we that we do our job."
(Ciarrocchi:) "Did he give you something."
"Uh. He did give me a set of rosaries," said Clancy.
(Ciarrocchi:) "Have you prayed with them yet?"
"Well, I always uh I say my prayers and I trust in God and it keeps my anxiety levels down, yes," said Clancy.