Philadelphia Area Youngsters Return From Seeing Pope Francis in Rio
By Mark Abrams
WILLOW GROVE, Pa. (CBS) -- A group of young pilgrims from the Philadelphia archdiocese returned today from a trip to Brazil for the pope's World Youth Day event.
They were tired after the flight from Rio to New York followed by a minibus ride back to St. David's Church on Easton Road in Willow Grove, Pa.
Elizabeth Feeney of Northeast Philadelphia, a member of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Tacony, says running alongside the popemobile was her most vivid memory.
"It was just amazing to see the excitement of everybody as, together as a crowd, we ran after Pope Francis," she said.
Lorenzo Cannon-Umstead of St. Ignatius Church in West Philadelphia, was moved by Sunday's closing mass on the Copacobana Beach.
"The pageantry, the sights and sounds -- everything was great," he said today.
Elizabeth Riordan, who led the 21 pilgrims in her role as the director of youth ministry for the archdiocese, says the pope's words were powerful, "really empowering our youth to go and bring the Gospel message to their peers in a world that is very dark and lonely."
