The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 today announced Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), the global provider of award-winning services in food, facilities management and uniforms, headquartered in Philadelphia, as the official food and beverage provider for the visit of Pope Francis in Philadelphia.

Here’s a simple exercise in basic reasoning. On a spectrum of bad things to do, theft is bad, assault is worse and murder is worst. There’s a similar texture of ill will connecting all three crimes, but only a very confused conscience would equate thieving and homicide. Both are serious matters. But there is no equivalence. The deliberate killing of innocent life is a uniquely wicked act. No amount of contextualizing or deflecting our attention to other issues can obscure that.

The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 today announced the launch of a new interactive training experience for its 10,000 volunteers utilizing Scavify, a mobile application. In preparing for the World Meeting of Families Congress (September 22 – 25) and Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia (September 26-27), this app will prepare volunteers for myriad roles by allowing them to complete a series of challenges that will test their knowledge of key roles and responsibilities for these special events.

The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia – Office of Catholic Education (OCE) today turned a late summer ritual for two Archdiocesan high school marching bands, band camp, into the announcement of a once in a lifetime performance opportunity.

The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 today announced that Pope Francis will use the Gettysburg Lectern, which was used by President Abraham Lincoln to deliver the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, for his historic address at Independence Hall on Saturday, September 26. 

Following today’s announcement about traffic, security, and planning updates from the City of Philadelphia, the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 urges all commercial and privately-owned buses and motor coaches to be registered now via GO GROUND, the official transportation management partner of the World Meeting of Families, at wmof.goground.com.

Both the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs are funded by companies that contribute to our scholarship organizations in exchange for a tax credit. – See more at: http://www.pacatholic.org/show-your-support-for-the-successful-eitc-and-ostc-programs/#sthash.fcOmLxWj.dpuf

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 today announced that the Papal Choir, comprised of 500 parishioners from across the five-county Philadelphia region, has begun rehearsals for the Papal Mass that will be celebrated Sunday, September 27, 2015 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to close the World Meeting of Families-Philadelphia 2015 and Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to the United States.

The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia today announced James Lenahan, a recent graduate from the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, as the winner of a Papal Sanctuary Design Contest.

The banner unveiling will be one of a series of events hosted by the Cathedral in celebration of the upcoming World Meeting of Families and the Papal Visit. Additional initiatives are outlined below.