I'm not Catholic, but he's the nicest Pope I've seen in quite awhile. I hope he stays safe in the U.S.

Philadelphia is on his itinerary, and I'm told some people in that area are renting out their homes during the visit.

Love that he rides in a small FIAT.

I just had breakfast at a diner, and was facing a TV with a special report showing the Pope arriving at the White House. Sound was off. so I was free to let my imagination run wild.

The Pope stood for a long while with Obama. I presume the Star Spangled Banner was being played. The President stood stiffly, looking up over the crowd. The Pope looked down, and actually looked rather glum. He seemed to get more glum as time went on - I was reminded of Grumpy Cat.

Then, evidently it was the Pledge of Alliegence, followed by a marching band of Redcoats, tri-cornered hats and all.

Redcoats? Where'd they come from? Wrong country!

Then the President helped the Pope to sit, and from the awkwardness of how he sat down, I understood the grumpy expression.

(At that point my check arrived, and I departed...)

While I have left the Church years ago, I have to admit I admire this Pope, and the earlier John Paul II.

I believe Pope Frances has some back problems and as a fellow in that camp, I know it is harder to stand for more than half a minute than it is it walk--much harder, actually, especially on hard surfaces. I hope he is with us for many years to come--love him.

Once I saw that part (the awkwardness of trying to sit down), I totally empathized with him!!! I've on and off had back issues over the years. I hadn't heard anything about his back problems until now, or until I guessed it was either back or knees earlier today.

DH and I watched over a second cup of coffee. Beautiful, sunny day. Plenty of flags and uniforms. The Fife and Drums played Yankee Doodle, and DH and I recalled seeing them once when we happened to visit Mount Vernon on a long-ago Fourth of July.

Our anthem was played, followed by the *very long* anthem for the Vatican. It was obviously hard for the Pope to walk, and then to stand for so long. (Reporters later said he is suffering from a bout of sciatica. He is 79, I believe.)

Neither leader spoke at length. I was pleased to hear the Pope talk about the need to address climate change, and to quote Martin Luther King about the debt we human beings owe our earth.

A good morning all around, I'd say. The Catholic church has a leader with a popular touch. He was a good choice to 'sell' the faith. Now to see what he has to say to Congress!

Love that he rides in a small FIAT.

It's the least he can after burning tons of fossil fuel jetting around the world.

Wow, brushworks--ouch!

Brushworks, the 'good will' he is epitomizing and spreading around the world by his trip offset the " the tons of jet fuel" being burned. He is giving hope to Catholics and non-Catholics, alike.

marcammons - I am curious why red, and the tri-corner hats, as that was the British insignia during the Revolutionary War. Seriously, I don't object, but I'm simply curious as to why?

No doubt his goal is to spread good will. I'm not questioning that. Did you know that the Pope has taken a firm stand against the burning of fossil fuel and has chastised corporations for burning fossil fuel to produce products?

When Pope Francis speaks to Congress on Thursday, environmentalists
expect him to renew his call for rich countries to do more to combat
climate change, and some believe that effort should begin with Catholic
institutions in the U.S., which are facing a small but vocal effort to
pressure them to divest from the fossil fuel industry.

It's a contradiction.

I don't know how else he could travel internationally without using fossil fuels, and to expect the Pope not to travel is unrealistic. Besides, the pressure is more than abstaining from fossil fuel. It's also to help encourage the development of alternatives that are more environmentally friendly. I'm sure he would use solar powered airplanes if they were available.

I have no objection to him traveling, just don't call me out on global warming while contributing a million tons more than I ever will.

And why does he have to travel? He can speak to Catholics from the Vatican. If they're interested in what he has to say, they will listen. I'm not interested in his visit because whatever he says or does won't impact my life.

I'm a member of the reformation flock. :)

Solar Airplanes

The radio talking heads are always making that accusation about individuals (always prominent liberals) burning fossil fuels with their travels, but no one mentions how many commercial airplanes are in the air every single day. Any fuel burning an individual can do is a tiny drop in the bucket.

artemis_ma -- Google "The Old Guard Fife and Drum".

Lucille, I agree with you....it's been very inspiring. Even though I am not religious person whatsoever, I like this Pope and much of his message to the world.

Lol, artemis....have you done your research yet? I wouldn't want you thinking that the Pope was welcomed by a band of British redcoats, lol! And tricorns were worn by all men at that time. Have you never seen a portrait of George Washington in uniform? If not wearing a tricorn, he'll be carrying it. ;-)

It's the Army Old Guard FIFE AND DRUM CORP.

On Cnn they are saying the pope flies commercial within the countries he visits. He's taking a regular American Airlines jet to New York.

"I'm not interested in his visit because whatever he says or does won't impact my life."

He is a major global leader. What he says and does may very well impact your life. Simply because you attend another church does not mean you are insulated from change initiated by world leaders, each of us is very much affected by what leaders in China, Russia, AND the Vatican, among others, say or do.

It's anyone's loss who eschews the Pope so entirely that they do not hear his message of peace, hope, love, caring, giving and acceptance, just to name a few.

This visit has been so inspiring and beautiful and I'm left reflecting upon how I can be a better person.

Anyone plan on seeing the Pope in Philly?

Nope - we all left town! If I lived with walking distance I'd consider it but I'm about 10 miles away and the city, FBI and Secret Service have managed to damper any intention that I might have harbored.

All 3 of my kids have apartments within a few blocks of the Parkway where he'll say Mass and 2 of the 3 are joining us at our vacation place in upstate PA. The 3rd will be working and she's trying to figure out how to bike to work to avoid the Pilgrims on the Parkway. Their apartments are only a block outside the 'No parking, No driving Papal Zone' It's always a feat to find a parking space in the city but now it's a nightmare. Thousands of people who usually park their cars on residential streets had to move their cars out of the zone or the city will tow them. They started towing on Tuesday.

They were given reduced rates in the city owned parking garages but of course the cars can't leave until Monday or Tuesday. Residents in the No Parking Zone who have windshield stickers allowing them to park in their neighborhood are allowed to park in other areas outside the Papal Zone which of course exacerbates the limited parking there.

The city told residents to do their errands early in the week and to think of this as an extended snow storm. Friends of mine who work in the city have taken vacation to avoid the hassle and many businesses have closed.

Major highways and the Ben Franklin Bridge are closed. Can you imagine if you had spent the last year planning a wedding only to find out months before the wedding that there's no transportation - no parking - no floral deliveries.

Pregnant women with due dates this week have been in contact with their hospitals to make sure there won't be any snafus. Ambulances will be running but visitors can't drive there. Many elective surgeries have been postponed or relocated. I think there are 4 large hospitals within the Papal Zone and they had to make arrangements to house sufficient staff for the duration.

Restaurants are trying to cope with staffing, food storage and trash pickup.

There won't be mail delivery on Saturday and maybe Friday too. No UPS or Fed Ex, postal boxes have been removed or locked. Most of the trains and subways are running but you have to have special tickets to allow you to ride. Those were offered online a few weeks ago and the system crashed due to demand. Cabs and Uber cannot enter the Papal Zone but can taxi people around the perimeter.

I hope everything goes smoothly. Its an honor for the city to serve as host. It will be interesting to watch - on TV .

Maire

He is transforming the world one soul at a time..you are correct no matter who you are in the world his presence does and will impact your life. You may never know how, but it will. Prayer and love does that!!

maire_cate - Holy heck! I was playing around with the idea of going up Sat.-Mon. so I could be at the mass, but I think not now.

Sounds like a nightmare.

I'm in D.C. and chose to watch on t.v.

Mimi- I'm sorry I sound so negative. We've been hearing about all these plans and warnings from the Mayor for months and it does make me wonder if it's scaring people from attending. At times they say they're expecting over a million people to attend the Mass. They are erecting a beautiful canopy on the Parkway and the altar will be beneath that. There will also be the usual Jumbo screens broadcasting the Mass for those who can't get close enough.

I know quite a few people who are going into the City for the Mass. My niece is coming from Pittsburgh with her husband and 4 children. I have several friends from my town who are attending. Although the Ben Franklin Bridge is closed it is open for pedestrians. People are planing to get dropped off on the New Jersey side and will walk the 5 miles across the bridge and into the city and then across town to the Mass. I could have easily driven into the city and parked at my son's apartment which is just outside the Papal Zone and walked a few blocks to the Parkway for the Mass. I just don't want to deal with the hassle, the security checkpoints and the porta potties. But then I also didn't want to go to Woodstock :) I'd rather spend a week in the mountains with my family.

This is the official Philly website for the Papal visit and it has information for those who are attending. According to the evening news tonight there are hotel rooms still available - and the city is very walkable.

http://www.phila.gov/InformationCenters/pope/Pages/default.aspx

maire_cate - Thanks! I'm from Philly, but think I'll save a visit for next month.

FWIW, the traffic in D.C. and transit wasn't as bad as they thought it would be. In fact, DH was loving his commute with all the government telecommuting.

Has disappointment killed this thread?

A coward?

I don't know what you mean, Brushworks. Thread killed? It looks alive to me.

My only disappointment was learning that this lovely Pope met with Kim Davis.

Brushworks Spectacular Finishes - Well, the way the situation was handled, from the secrecy of the meeting to the evasion of confirmation and details of the meeting was cowardly.

I don't know how much the Pope played in these aspects, and if he had only superficial knowledge of the Davis situation, he could have been used by the opportunistic politicians and homophobic bigots who glommed onto Ms. Davis for political and ideological gain.

NYT/Davis

Glad to hear it was such a benign and impersonal encounter.

Davis and the Liberty Counsel were duplicitous and conniving. They purposefully deceived as they filled the vacuum left by the Vatican as the Vatican were caught with their pantaloons down, playing a game of catch up.

Now I'm angry that they used the Catholic Church, for which they eschew at least, and detest and attack at worst.

I love the intrigue of it all. My favorite quote from this article: the Vatican is a marvelous environment for coincidence.

Esquire: Was Pope Francis Actually Swindled into Meeting Kim Davis?