The family-themed celebration Saturday night, Sept. 26, included music by top artists in several genres and testimony on family life by six families from around the world. Pope Francis greeted each one and gave a stirring address to the hundreds of thousands filling the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Read the full story.
Marie Miller sings and plays country music with her group. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Pope Francis arrives by popemobile at the stage area after touring the crowds on the parkway. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
The Philadelphia Orchestra performs under the direction of Yannick Nezet-Seguin. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Archbishop Charles Chaput speaks to the crowd and Pope Francis. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
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(Photo by Sarah Webb)
Amy Wall, recipient of a miracle that led to the canonization of St. Katharine Drexel, proclaims a Bible reading from Hosea. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Actor and producer Mark Wahlberg served as master of ceremonies for the Festival of Families. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Pope Francis meets a young couple, intending to marry, from Australia during one of six family testimonies from around the world. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
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Pope Francis, Archbishop Chaput and all the guests watch a video on family life. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
A sign language choir interprets a song played by the rock band, the Fray. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
A boy sings a Latin hymn during the festival. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Pope Francis listens to Herb Lusk, a Christian pastor and former Philadelphia Eagle, proclaim a reading from the Gospel of Luke, on the parable of the prodigal son. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
A single mother, along with her two sons, speaks to the pope. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
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Aretha Franklin belts out a gospel rendition of “Amazing Grace.” (Photo by Sarah Webb)
The pope greets a Jordanian family. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla, daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, reads a letter by her mother before her death. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
(Photo by Sarah Webb)
A mother and son from Nigeria speak to the pope. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Excitement was the word of the day on Sept. 26 in Philadelphia, as these religious sisters and novices show. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
(Photo by Sarah Webb)
Anna Candeloro and Anthony Scafidi from Blackwood, N.J., praise the Lord during the Festival of Families. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Singer Jackie Evancho filled center city with the sounds of her soprano voice at the Festival of Families. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Christian artist Matt Maher (seated) and his band entertain the crowd. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
Jim Gaffigan performs stand-up comedy at the Festival of Families. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
(Photo by Sarah Webb)
The group Sister Sledge reminds the hundreds of thousands at the festival of Families that indeed, “We Are Family” — their chart-topping song. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
The stage used video projection to offer a wide variety of backgrounds for the evening’s performances. (Photo by Sarah Webb)
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Jackie Evancho Should have been top of the bill. would be interested who the pope prefers to listen too