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Pope Francis draws more than 1m to emotional farewell mass in Philadelphia Pope Francis draws more than 1m to emotional farewell mass in Philadelphia
(about 17 hours later)
Pope Francis has brought Philadelphia to a standstill with an emotional farewell mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, drawing more than a million worshippers under an autumn sky for the final act of a historic visit to the United States. Pope Francis brought Philadelphia to a standstill with an emotional farewell mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, drawing more than a million worshippers under an autumn sky for the final act of a historic visit to the United States.
The city transformed into a thrumming sea of people who had journeyed from across the Americas to witness, pray and rejoice here, producing a dramatic coda to a visit which took the pontiff closer to the centres of US power and history than any of his predecessors.The city transformed into a thrumming sea of people who had journeyed from across the Americas to witness, pray and rejoice here, producing a dramatic coda to a visit which took the pontiff closer to the centres of US power and history than any of his predecessors.
Francis used his final homily to speak not as a political figure but as a pastor, exhorting the Catholic church to show more tolerance, openness and inclusiveness.Francis used his final homily to speak not as a political figure but as a pastor, exhorting the Catholic church to show more tolerance, openness and inclusiveness.
The so-called people’s pope, as he has become known in the US media, cited Moses and Jesus in warning against a “narrow” approach to faith – a coded rebuke to official sticklers in the Vatican, the US and elsewhere in advance of next month’s synod on the family in Rome.The so-called people’s pope, as he has become known in the US media, cited Moses and Jesus in warning against a “narrow” approach to faith – a coded rebuke to official sticklers in the Vatican, the US and elsewhere in advance of next month’s synod on the family in Rome.
“The temptation to be scandalized by the freedom of God, who sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike, bypassing bureaucracy, officialdom and inner circles, threatens the authenticity of faith. Hence it must be vigorously rejected,” he said, speaking Spanish. “The temptation to be scandalised by the freedom of God, who sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike, bypassing bureaucracy, officialdom and inner circles, threatens the authenticity of faith. Hence it must be vigorously rejected,” he said, speaking Spanish.
To raise doubts about faith in those who are not “like us” was a dangerous temptation, Francis said. “Not only does it block conversion to the faith; it is a perversion of faith!”To raise doubts about faith in those who are not “like us” was a dangerous temptation, Francis said. “Not only does it block conversion to the faith; it is a perversion of faith!”
Related: Pope Francis vows clergy in sex abuse cases will face justiceRelated: Pope Francis vows clergy in sex abuse cases will face justice
In softer tones he urged families to show love by attention to small daily signs “which make us feel at home” – themes emblazoned on banners which fluttered in a cool breeze across the city. “Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches.”In softer tones he urged families to show love by attention to small daily signs “which make us feel at home” – themes emblazoned on banners which fluttered in a cool breeze across the city. “Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches.”
Faith and family opened a happier, better world, he said. “Our common house can no longer tolerate sterile divisions. The urgent challenge of protecting our home includes the effort to bring the entire human family together in the pursuit of a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change.”Faith and family opened a happier, better world, he said. “Our common house can no longer tolerate sterile divisions. The urgent challenge of protecting our home includes the effort to bring the entire human family together in the pursuit of a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change.”
Earlier he focused on forgiveness and repentance – and the church’s sins – in a private meeting with victims of sex abuse by Catholic clerics, and in a visit to prisoners at a jail.Earlier he focused on forgiveness and repentance – and the church’s sins – in a private meeting with victims of sex abuse by Catholic clerics, and in a visit to prisoners at a jail.
Francis beamed, waved and paused to kiss and bless numerous babies as his popemobile swept past cheering throngs en route to the mass, a jamboree organised by the World Meeting of Families, which will next meet in Dublin in 2018.Francis beamed, waved and paused to kiss and bless numerous babies as his popemobile swept past cheering throngs en route to the mass, a jamboree organised by the World Meeting of Families, which will next meet in Dublin in 2018.
Battalions of police, state troopers, national guards and other security personnel sealed off Philadelphia to traffic and searched pedestrians with airport-style checks, causing lengthy queues which prevented thousands from entering the parkway.Battalions of police, state troopers, national guards and other security personnel sealed off Philadelphia to traffic and searched pedestrians with airport-style checks, causing lengthy queues which prevented thousands from entering the parkway.
Related: Pope Francis in Philadelphia: church must not be so quick to be scandalised – liveRelated: Pope Francis in Philadelphia: church must not be so quick to be scandalised – live
In one section, Brazilians, Dominicans, Poles, Illinoisans, New Yorkers and Virginians shuffled cheek by jowl inches at a time. A woman in her 60s from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, called it “an exercise in patience”.In one section, Brazilians, Dominicans, Poles, Illinoisans, New Yorkers and Virginians shuffled cheek by jowl inches at a time. A woman in her 60s from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, called it “an exercise in patience”.
“It’s one that I’m failing,” her husband joked. Others called the delays “insane”. Nancy Loughlin, a retiree from Trumbull, Connecticut, ended up following the mass on Jumbotrons outside the parkway. “I took some pictures on the TV and they’re almost like being there. And this is still an experience, at least.”“It’s one that I’m failing,” her husband joked. Others called the delays “insane”. Nancy Loughlin, a retiree from Trumbull, Connecticut, ended up following the mass on Jumbotrons outside the parkway. “I took some pictures on the TV and they’re almost like being there. And this is still an experience, at least.”
An Argentinian family who drove a mini-bus 13,000 miles to attend the mass had more luck: a personal encounter with the pope, though he jokingly questioned their sanity. “You are the family who traveled from Buenos Aires? You are crazy.” An Argentinian family who drove a minibus 13,000 miles to attend the mass had more luck: a personal encounter with the pope, though he jokingly questioned their sanity. “You are the family who travelled from Buenos Aires? You are crazy.”
The mass capped a day of rapture and poignance for those swept up in six days of pope mania, a public relations triumph during which the 78-year-old Argentinean deftly mixed politics and pageantry to draw attention to his priorities – poverty, injustice, pollution – and to challenge the US to do better. The mass capped a day of rapture and poignancy for those swept up in six days of pope mania, a public relations triumph during which the 78-year-old Argentinian deftly mixed politics and pageantry to draw attention to his priorities – poverty, injustice, pollution – and to challenge the US to do better.
As he prepared to fly back to Rome on Sunday night, with Vice-President Joe Biden due to escort him to the chartered Alitalia jet dubbed “Shepherd One”, the question was how the so-called “Francis effect” would play out in tussles between conservatives and liberals in the Catholic church, Congress and grassroots activism.As he prepared to fly back to Rome on Sunday night, with Vice-President Joe Biden due to escort him to the chartered Alitalia jet dubbed “Shepherd One”, the question was how the so-called “Francis effect” would play out in tussles between conservatives and liberals in the Catholic church, Congress and grassroots activism.
Francis, who had never visited the US before, deflected accusations of anti-Americanism by cloaking his exhortations in the language and symbols of US heroes, including the founding fathers, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King.Francis, who had never visited the US before, deflected accusations of anti-Americanism by cloaking his exhortations in the language and symbols of US heroes, including the founding fathers, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King.
He was greeted with adulation by leaders and crowds in the White House, Congress, the United Nations, Madison Square Garden and, finally, the city of brotherly love.He was greeted with adulation by leaders and crowds in the White House, Congress, the United Nations, Madison Square Garden and, finally, the city of brotherly love.
He started his final day in Philadelphia with a sombre private meeting with five victims of Catholic church sex abuse, only his second since the beginning of his papacy. He vowed that those responsible will face justice.He started his final day in Philadelphia with a sombre private meeting with five victims of Catholic church sex abuse, only his second since the beginning of his papacy. He vowed that those responsible will face justice.
“I remain overwhelmed with shame that men entrusted with the tender care of children violated these little ones and caused grievous harm. I am profoundly sorry. God weeps,” he said.“I remain overwhelmed with shame that men entrusted with the tender care of children violated these little ones and caused grievous harm. I am profoundly sorry. God weeps,” he said.
Some critics were not mollified, however, saying Francis needed to do more to tackle the legacy of decades of abuse and cover-ups.Some critics were not mollified, however, saying Francis needed to do more to tackle the legacy of decades of abuse and cover-ups.
Later he visited inmates at Curran-Fromhold correctional facility and urged them to believe in the power of rehabilitation. Christ, he said, “comes to save us from the lie that says no one can change”.Later he visited inmates at Curran-Fromhold correctional facility and urged them to believe in the power of rehabilitation. Christ, he said, “comes to save us from the lie that says no one can change”.
Related: Pope at prison: justice system must focus on healing and 'new possibilities'Related: Pope at prison: justice system must focus on healing and 'new possibilities'
“Any society, any family that cannot share or take seriously the pain of its children, and views that pain as something normal or expected, is a society condemned to remain hostage to itself, prey to the very things which cause that pain.”“Any society, any family that cannot share or take seriously the pain of its children, and views that pain as something normal or expected, is a society condemned to remain hostage to itself, prey to the very things which cause that pain.”
Treating immigrants with compassion – another leitmotif of his visit – left many Latinos lining his route to the parkway hopeful about the future, regardless of continued xenophobia from Donald Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner.Treating immigrants with compassion – another leitmotif of his visit – left many Latinos lining his route to the parkway hopeful about the future, regardless of continued xenophobia from Donald Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner.
“There won’t be a 180-degree change overnight, or in one month, but I think some people will begin to open their minds,” said Fidel Huerta, 46, a Mexican-born resident of Houston who had travelled with 97 other Latinos from Texas to see the pope. “He came at an important time. We need him.”“There won’t be a 180-degree change overnight, or in one month, but I think some people will begin to open their minds,” said Fidel Huerta, 46, a Mexican-born resident of Houston who had travelled with 97 other Latinos from Texas to see the pope. “He came at an important time. We need him.”