Philadelphia Archbishop Hopes Papal Visit Will Benefit Church And City
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia's Archbishop is hoping the visit of Pope Francis to the city this September will spark a time of healing and renewal in the church and the community.
Archbishop Charles Chaput said Pope Francis is saving the best for last on his Cuba-U-S tour.
He'll be in Philadelphia for two busy days, September 26 and 27, departing after a large, open-air Mass on the Ben Franklin Parkway.
Chaput said he has seen what a papal visit can do. He arrived in Denver as bishop after Pope John Paul II's stayed there.
Chaput said that visit changed the face of Denver, not just the church, but the city.
"We became a world-class city in Denver because of the pope's visit, he said. "Now, Philadelphia is a world-class city to start with. But, perhaps this will be the point where we can really shine before the world and people will see that we haven't lost that glory that's been ours historically."
Chaput said the church of Philadelphia needs renewal and the pope could be the catalyst to spark it help get past the troubled times of the past five years.