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U.S. NEWSMonday 28 September 2015
Pope Francis Wraps up US Visit with Huge Mass
NICOLE WINFIELD Pope Francis parades in the popemobile along the Benjamin altar at the steps of the col- the Mass with fellow pa-
RACHEL ZOLL Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, on his umned Philadelphia Muse- rishioners on a large screen
Associated Press way to celebrate Mass. um of Art. set up at City Hall, closing
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pope With a towering golden her eyes and blinking back
Francis urged hundreds of (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) crucifix behind him, Fran- tears. “It’s very overwhelm-
thousands of the faithful cis told his listeners that ing,” she said. “You feel
gathered Sunday for the The Mass — the final event a mild early-autumn day. their presence itself was “a like you’re one body with
biggest event of his U.S. vis- on Francis’ itinerary before Riding through the streets kind of miracle in today’s everyone here, wheth-
it to be open to “miracles the 78-year-old pontiff was in his open-sided popemo- world,” an affirmation of er you’re here, whether
of love,” closing out his six- to return to Rome — was bile, the pontiff waved to the family and the power you’re back home, wheth-
day tour with a message of a brilliant tableau of gold, cheering, screaming, sing- of love. er you’re anywhere in the
hope for families, consola- green and white in the ing, flag-waving crowds “Would that all of us could world.” Of the pope, she
tion for victims of child sex- slanted evening sunlight of as he made his way to the be open to miracles of love said: “He’s brought so
ual abuse and a warning for the sake of all the fami- much joy and holy spirit
to America’s bishops. lies of the world,” he said to into the United States. It
Organizers had predicted the hushed crowd spread doesn’t matter if you’re a
a crowd of 1 million for Fran- out along the tree-lined Catholic; he’s just trying
cis’ open-air Mass, and the boulevard before him. to unite everybody for a
Benjamin Franklin Parkway Crowds a mile away fell better world.” Earlier in the
overflowed with the jubi- silent during the Com- day, Francis had a differ-
lant. They endured hours- munion part of the Mass. ent message for families
long lines and airport-style Some people knelt on the scarred by the sins of the
security checks to see his- paving stones at City Hall, church itself.
tory’s first pope from the a few blocks from the altar. The pope met with five vic-
Americas in the birthplace June Bounds, 56, of Roch- tims of child sexual abuse
of the United States. ester, New York, watched and told them he was
“deeply sorry” for the times
they came forward to tell
their stories and weren’t
believed. He assured them
that he believes them and
that bishops who cov-
ered up for abusers will be
made to answer for what
they did. “I pledge to you
that we will follow the path
of truth wherever it may
lead,” Francis said in Span-
ish. “Clergy and bishops
will be held accountable
when they abuse or fail to
protect children.”
A few minutes later, he
went into a meeting of
bishops from the U.S. and
around the world who
were in town for a Catholic
festival on the family and
told them the same thing.
“God weeps” over what
was done to the young-
sters, he lamented.
The pope has agreed to
create a new Vatican tri-
bunal to prosecute bish-
ops who failed to protect
their flock, and he has ac-
cepted the resignations of
three U.S. bishops accused
of mishandling abuse
cases.q
