As events and final security plans are finalized, 5,000 tickets will be made available to the public for Independence Hall and certain areas of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be ticketed for September 26-27.  

Philadelphia, PA (September 2, 2015) – Following the release by the United States Secret Service today of its walking map, including pedestrian entry points for the Papal events on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and at Independence Hall, Jumbotron placement on walking routes and its list of prohibited items,  the World Meeting of Families –Philadelphia 2015 is providing updated information regarding public access to all events with Pope Francis during the weekend of September 26-27. 

“The message, as always remains, ‘Join us and be part of history,’” said Donna Crilley Farrell, Executive Director of the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015.  “We have worked diligently with our many valued partners for several months to develop comprehensive plans that would allow for maximum public access to events involving the Holy Father in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere.  Based on this work, tickets are being made available to the 219 parishes throughout the five-county Archdiocese as well as to Archdiocesan social service ministries, which touch the lives of those whom Pope Francis cares so deeply.  These plans were put in place to ensure that representatives representing the vibrant life and ongoing work of the Archdiocese were part of these joyful events.  It is important to be clear that the announcement of limited ticketing does not limit participation in these events in any way.  There is plenty of room for all who wish to attend. Now, more than ever is the time to declare, ‘I’ll Be There!’”

Below, please find details of access and, where applicable, ticketing for Papal events.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Papal Arrival at Atlantic Aviation
Due to space limitations and the nature of this venue, the event will be non-public. This event will be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

Mass for the People of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
This Mass is being celebrated by the Holy Father for the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. As seating capacity in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is very limited, representatives of all facets of Archdiocesan life and culture have been invited to attend this liturgy and privately ticketed. 

This event will be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

Arrival of the Holy Father at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Due to space limitations at this venue, the event will be non-public. This event will be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

Independence Hall
Tickets are required for attendance at Independence Hall; 5,000 tickets will be made available to the public on a first come, first serve basis on Tuesday, September 8.  Tickets will be available online. 

A separate release will be issued Friday, September 4^th with instructions on how to access these 5,000 tickets.  There is no cost associated with these tickets.   

With the Holy Father’s address at Independence Hall being focused on immigration and religious freedom, other tickets have been distributed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the World Meeting of Families to the ethnic apostolates and immigrant communities through the Archdiocesan Office of Multicultural Ministries.

This event will be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

The Festival of Families
The Festival of Families is open to the general public and all those who wish to attend are welcome. Certain areas of The Benjamin Franklin Parkway will, however, require ticketing (20^th Street – Eakins Oval) based on final security plans.  Tickets within this area are being distributed by the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 219 parishes.  There are also tickets being allocated to include representatives from surrounding dioceses, Project H.O.M.E., ministerial outreach programs of Catholic Social Services and representatives of other faith communities within the Philadelphia region.

Those with tickets should enter the Benjamin Franklin Parkway through the following security check points:

• Pennsylvania Avenue at the intersection of N 23^rd Street and Spring Garden Street
• N 22^nd Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Hamilton Street
• Hamilton Street between N 21^st and N 22^nd Streets
• 21^st Street between Hamilton Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
• N 20^th Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Callowhill Street
• N 20^th Street at Race Street
• N 21^st Street at Winter Street

There are no tickets required for access to events on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20^th Street to City Hall and beyond.  Non-ticketed attendees should enter the Benjamin Franklin Parkway through the following security check points:

• N15th Street at Cherry Street
• N Broad Street at Cherry Street
• S Broad Street at Chestnut Street
• S 15^th Street at Chestnut Street
• S17th Street at Market Street
• S 17^th Street at John F. Kennedy Boulevard

This event will also be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

The Address to International Bishops at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Due to the audience that the Holy Father wishes to address and the nature of the venue, the event will be non-public. This event will be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

A Visit with Inmates at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
Due to the audience that the Holy Father wishes to address and the nature of the venue, the event will be non-public. This event will be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

The Papal Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
The Papal Mass is open to the general public and all those who wish to attend are welcome. Certain areas of The Benjamin Franklin Parkway will, however, require ticketing (20^th Street – Eakins Oval) based on final security plans.  Tickets within this area are being distributed by the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 219 parishes.  There are also tickets being allocated to include representatives from surrounding dioceses, Project H.O.M.E., ministerial outreach programs of Catholic Social Services and representatives of other faith communities within the Philadelphia region.

Those with tickets should enter the Benjamin Franklin Parkway through the following security check points:

• Pennsylvania Avenue at the intersection of N 23^rd Street and Spring Garden Street
• N 22^nd Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Hamilton Street
• Hamilton Street between N 21^st and N 22^nd Streets
• 21^st Street between Hamilton Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
• N 20^th Street at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Callowhill Street
• N 20^th Street at Race Street
• N 21^st Street at Winter Street

There are no tickets required for access to events on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20^th Street to City Hall and beyond.  Those who do not require a ticket to enter the Benjamin Franklin Parkway should utilize the following security check points:

• N 19^th Street at Wood Street
• N 18^th Street at Cherry Street
• N 19^th Street at Cherry Street

This event will be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

An Expression of Gratitude for the World Meeting of Families at Atlantic Aviation
By invitation only, a group of approximately 500 will attend this event representing the organizers, volunteers and benefactors who have helped to make the World Meeting of Families and the visit of Pope Francis possible.  Tickets will be distributed at the discretion of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015.

Due to space limitations and the nature of this venue, the event will be non-public. This event will be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

Papal Departure at Atlantic Aviation
Due to space limitations and the nature of this venue, the event will be non-public. This event will be shown across all 40 Jumbotrons within the Francis Festival Grounds for the benefit of all those celebrating the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia.

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.