Pope Francis has charmed, celebrated and mildly scolded the American spirit ever since his arrival. Now it's our turn to meet him in person.
Pope Francis gave a pep talk to America when he addressed both houses of Congress on Thursday. He rejoiced in the values on which our nation was founded while subtly - and, sometimes, more directly - nudged citizens and elected officials back toward values from which he thinks we have strayed.
Even the way that the pope said, "The land of the free and the home of the brave," upon his introduction was chilling, in a good way. Pronouncing the words distinctly in cautious English, he captured the true meaning of a phrase that too many Americans take for granted.
MORE: Read Pope Francis' address to Congress
We can expect more of Pope Francis' gentle prodding when he speaks at Independence Hall on Saturday, the first major public event in his two days in Philadelphia. It's a fitting spot for him to expand his remarks about individual freedom and acceptance of refugees.
A patriotic speaker cannot go wrong by invoking the names of Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King. Neither can a holy man who leads 1.2 billion Roman Catholics and hails from Argentina, it turns out. Citing the simple Golden Rule as a philosophy for world civility made it unnecessary for the pope to dwell on bureaucratic pronouncements that signify Catholicism, as well other major religions.
Pope Francis' unmistakably called for abolishing the death penalty and reinforced church opposition to abortion. He repeated previously expressed desires for world governments to address climate change and income inequality, and to improve things for the homeless. In America, such topics have created chasms that one speech cannot erase. If the pope has raised in Congress a moment of introspection over its failure to act, though, who knows what can happen?
The Washington and New York City components of the pontiff's visit took some spotlight from his time in Philadelphia, which was scheduled before the other two U.S. stops in order to coincide with the church's World Conference of Families. It's doubtful anyone will have had "too much" pope by Sunday's Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. To the contrary, the lift that the pope has provided since arriving in America should make more people than ever clamor to see him, hear him and be near him.
As befits a "People's Pope," several barriers that threatened the ability of ordinary people to attend events have tumbled down. Philadelphia's SEPTA trains will stop at closer stations than originally planned, relieving spectators of miles-long walks to reach the venues. Camden officials, who discouraged people from parking their cars there and taking the PATCO Hi-Speed Line, have relaxed the ban and have made thousands of spaces available.
Our region has prepared well for this visit, all things considered. Volunteers and celebrants can be proud.
Welcome, Pope Francis. That you have chosen our corner of the world to deliver messages of faith and compassion means the world to us.
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