Posted November 18, 2014

Organizers for the 2015 World Meeting of Families and representatives of the state, city and business community held a press conference attended by 200 Catholic school students Nov. 17 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to announce that Pope Francis will visit the City of Brotherly Love next September. See the full story on the announcement, and read the reactions of people connected to the families’ congress as well as rank-and-file Catholics.  See more related news and resources on the World Meeting of Families here. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families organization, joyfully announces that Pope Francis will visit the city next September, as Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter looks on during a Nov. 17 press conference at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. (Sarah Webb)

Announcing next year’s papal visit to Philadelphia during a press conference Nov. 17 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art are, from left, Robert J. Ciaruffoli, president of World Meeting of Families Philadelphia 2015; Susan Corbett, wife of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett; Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of World Meeting of Families; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Daniel Hilferty, CEO and president of Independence Blue Cross and chairman of the Executive Leadership Committee of the World Meeting of Families. (Sarah Webb)

 

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Robert J. Ciaruffoli, president World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015, addresses media and more than 200 Catholic school students Nov. 17 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art about the announcement of Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia next year. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

About 200 Catholic school students representing St. Francis Xavier, St. Mary Interparochial and St. Peter the Apostle grade schools in Philadelphia, plus Cardinal O’Hara, Father Judge, Archbishop Carroll, Roman Catholic and Hallahan high schools, fill the Grand Hall Staircase of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Nov. 17. (Sarah Webb)

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Daniel Hilferty, CEO and president of Indepnedence Blue Cross and chairman of the Executive Leadership Committee of the World Meeting of Families, called on the business community of the Philadelphia region to support the congress and visit of Pope Francis, which he called a “once-in-a-lifetime chance for Philadelphia to shine.” (Sarah Webb)

Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre, left, shares a moment with Eustace Mita of the World Meeting of Families’ board of directors during the Nov. 17 press conference at the Art Museum. (Sarah Webb)

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