World Meeting of Families—Philadelphia 2015 Confirms Papal Parades for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 26 & 27

The World Meeting of Families also announces increased availability of tickets for Independence Hall as well as ticket availability for general public for the Festival of Families and Papal Mass.

Philadelphia, PA (September 3, 2015) – The World Meeting of Families –Philadelphia 2015 today confirmed two papal parades with Pope Francis on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  The first parade, which will take the Holy Father from Eakins Oval to/around City Hall, will be prior to the Festival of Families on Saturday, September 26th and will allow all gathered on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and beyond to see the Holy Father up close.  The second parade will be prior to the Papal Mass on Sunday, September 27.  The route for this second parade is still being finalized but it is expected to be shorter to ensure that the Papal Mass begins on schedule.

Additionally, the World Meeting of Families –Philadelphia 2015 also announced an important update regarding ticketing for the events scheduled at Independence Hall and on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway:

  • Ticket availability for the general public at Independence Hall has been increased from 5,000 to 10,000 tickets. As reported previously, these tickets will be made available to the public on a first come, first serve basis beginning Tuesday, September 8. Tickets will be available online and the maximum number of tickets one can access is four (4).
  • 10,000 tickets to the Festival of Families on Saturday, September 26 will be made available to the public on a first come, first serve basis beginning Wednesday, September 9. Tickets will be available online and the maximum number of tickets one can access is four (4).
  • 10,000 tickets to the Papal Mass on Sunday, September 27 will be made available to the public on a first come, first serve basis beginning Wednesday, September 9. Tickets will be available online and the maximum number of tickets one can access is four (4).

A separate release will be issued Friday, September 4th with instructions on how the public can access these 30,000 tickets.  There is absolutely no cost associated with these tickets.   

“We are delighted to confirm  two papal parades with  Pope Francis on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which will bring the Holy Father to the all those who are coming to see him,” said Donna Crilley Farrell, Executive Director of the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015.  “Our message is one that welcomes all and the announcement of limited ticketing yesterday was never meant to limit participation in any way.  With the announcement of the papal parades on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 – as well as the decision to make 10,000 tickets available to the public, per event, for Independence Hall, the Festival of Families and the Papal Mass, we hope that we have allayed any concern of participation and access to the Holy Father during his visit to Philadelphia.”  

In addition to the confirmation of two papal parades on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the availability of tickets for the general public at Independence Hall, the Festival of Families and the Papal Mass, the World Meeting of Families today also shared the locations of the 40 Jumbotrons planned for across the Francis Festival Grounds:

  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway Stage Left (South side of Eakins Oval)
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway Stage Right (North side of Eakins Oval)
  • 24th Street & Park Towne Place
  • Binswanger Triangle (South Side)
  • Binswanger Triangle (North Side)
  • Von Colln Field South West
  • Von Colln Field North West
  • 19th & Spring Garden Streets
  • Spring Garden Street between 16th and 17th Streets
  • Broad & Green Streets
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway between Oval & 22nd (West) Street
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway between Oval & 22nd (East) Street
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway & 22nd Street
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 22nd & 21st Streets
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway & 21st Street
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway & Winter Street (On triangle grass area)
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway & Winter Street (Corner)
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway & 20th Street
  • Logan Square & 20th Street
  • Logan Square & 19th Street
  • Logan Square & 18th Street
  • Benjamin Franklin Parkway & 17th Street
  • John F. Kennedy Boulevard & 16th Street
  • Arch Street & 15th Street
  • Municipal Services Building Plaza (Southwest)
  • Municipal Services Building Plaza (East)
  • City Hall – Market Street East
  • Sansom Street (East of Broad Street)
  • Broad & Spruce Streets
  • Broad & Lombard Streets
  • Broad & Wood Streets
  • Independence Hall Stage Left (North of Chestnut)
  • Independence Hall Stage Left (Block One Center)
  • Independence Hall Stage Right(Block One Center)
  • Independence Hall Stage Left (Block Two Center)
  • Independence Hall Stage Right(Block Two Center)
  • Independence Hall Block Two Center
  • Independence Hall Block Three South
  • 5th Street, North of Chestnut Street
  • Franklin Square (North West Corner)

For more information regarding the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, visit www.WorldMeeting2015.org. You can also engage the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia on Facebook (World Meeting of Families 2015) (Encuentro Mundial de las Familias – Filadelfia 2015), Twitter (@WMF2015) (@WMF2015ES) and Instagram (WMF2015).

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About World Meetings of Families

Beginning with 1994, The Year of the Family, the Pontifical Council for the Family has been responsible for organizing the World Meetings of Families in Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and now, Philadelphia (2015).  Since its inception by Saint John Paul II, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe.