Pope presence: The pope is scheduled to meet privately with about 100 male and female inmates, some of their families, members of the prison staff and dignitaries inside the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility at 11 a.m. on Sunday. SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA
(Update: Sept. 26, 1:30 p.m.)
There appears to be a security buildup around the St. Katharine Drexel Shrine and Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament convent in Bensalem Township, fueling speculation that Pope Francis may make an unannounced visit to the convent. The Northeast Times has learned via law enforcement sources that the pope could visit the shrine during a break in his public schedule.
The pope is scheduled to visit the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility at 7901 State Road in Northeast Philadelphia at 11 a.m. on Sunday. A prison spokeswoman has said that the prison visit is expected to last about one hour. The pope is then scheduled to celebrate Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 4 p.m. Prior to that Mass, his motorcade will parade on the Parkway between the Philadelphia Museum of Art and City Hall.
There is a window of time following the prison visit and before the parade when the pope may be able to visit the Drexel shrine, which is at 1663 Bristol Pike (U.S. Route 13). The traveling distance to the shrine from the prison is about five miles. There are several possible routes, including State Road, Frankford Avenue/Bristol Pike, Tennis Avenue, Station Avenue and possibly Interstate 95.
Follow the Northeast Times on Twitter @NETimesOfficial and on Facebook for additional updates. The Times will be Tweeting live from the various papal events on Sunday.
(Update: Sept. 24, 5:20 p.m.)
Philadelphia Prison System spokeswoman Shawn Hawes has notified the Northeast Times that Philadelphia police traffic and pedestrian restrictions will be in place near Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility during the pope’s scheduled visit there on Sunday morning. A Philadelphia police source confirmed that the pope is expected to travel via helicopter to the area and use State Road briefly to access the prison. However, spectators may not be able to view the pope.
(The article originally published by the Northeast Times on Sept. 23 follows in its entirety.)
A spokeswoman for the Philadelphia Prison System said on Tuesday that the public will be allowed to assemble outside the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in hope of catching a glimpse of Pope Francis when he visits the venue on Sunday morning.
“They’re going to be allowed to line the streets,” prisons spokeswoman Shawn Hawes told the Northeast Times.
The optimal viewing location and time remain largely a mystery. Officially, any procession will not be considered a public appearance. The pope is scheduled to meet privately with about 100 male and female inmates, some of their families, members of the prison staff and dignitaries inside CFCF at 11 a.m. About two dozen media members will also be allowed inside, Hawes said. The gathering is expected to last about one hour.
However, it remains unclear how the pope will access the prison grounds. The facility is at 7901 State Road. On Sept. 15, the Vatican announced during a news briefing in Rome that the pope would ride a helicopter to the prison. Hawes said that she could not confirm what type of vehicles will be used, although the pope would have to enter the grounds via the front gate on State Road.
Last Wednesday, Mark Focht, a deputy commissioner for the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation, announced during a public meeting at Pelbano Recreation Center that Pennypack on the Delaware Park will close to the public on Saturday night and remain closed until 3 p.m. on Sunday, furthering speculation that the “Popecopter” may land in the park, which abuts the prison grounds. Focht also said that the Philadelphia Police Department’s Marine Unit will use Pleasant Hill Park in East Torresdale (including the Linden Avenue boat ramp) as a staging area for papal security.
The pope’s next public event will be a Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Northeast Times is planning to live Tweet leading up to and during the public Mass, wireless bandwidth permitting. Follow @NETimesOfficial starting in the early afternoon for first-hand descriptions of the activity on the Parkway and comments from papal pilgrims.
As a result of the papal weekend, the city’s Department of Streets has announced that residential trash and recycling collections will be suspended throughout the city on Friday and Monday. Residents who normally have Friday or Monday collections should hold their trash and recycling on premises until the following week. Residents can also drop off trash and recyclables at the Northeast Philadelphia Sanitation Convenience Center, State Road and Ashburner Street. Meanwhile the City of Philadelphia is providing the public with free text message alerts about the World Meeting of Families and the papal visit. Alerts will include travel and traffic information, weather warnings, emergency information and other real-time notices. Text “papalvisit” to 888777 to register automatically. ••
