PHILADELPHIA (PA)
New Zealand Herald
PHILADELPHIA (AP) ” Latest developments in Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. All times local:
12:15 p.m.
Pope Francis has finished celebrating a Mass, stopping to bless children in wheelchairs before leaving the cathedral in downtown Philadelphia.
Francis walked through a chapel adjacent to the main room in the cathedral on Saturday to greet ill and disabled parishioners, along with other visitors. He blessed the children and gave them a kiss on the head.
Francis delivered a homily in Spanish in front of about 1,600 people. He says the future of the church depends on an increased role for the laity and valuing the “immense contribution” of women.
He will spend a few hours at a seminary just outside of the city before giving a speech Saturday afternoon on religious freedom and immigration.
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Noon
The former Archbishop of Philadelphia who retired in 2011 amid a scandal over clergy sex abuse is celebrating Mass with Pope Francis.
Cardinal Justin Rigali joined Francis and other bishops at the Mass Saturday on the pope’s first stop in Philadelphia.
Rigali’s successor, Archbishop Charles Chaput, also was on the altar in front of about 1,600 people at the main cathedral in downtown Philadelphia.
Rigali retired to the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee, months after a grand jury accused the Philadelphia archdiocese of sheltering more than three dozen credibly accused priests and lying about it to victims and others.
Later Saturday, Francis will give a speech on religious freedom and immigration and then join in the final night of the World Meeting of Families.
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