While here, he urged parishioners on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to be kinder to one another, preached mercy for immigrants, rehabilitation for prisoners, and blessed babies thrust into his embrace.
Thousands of admirers gather to see Pope Francis as he travels along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to a stage to celebrate a papal Mass during his visit to Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. It was the final day of his six-day visit to the United States.Read moreMichael Bryant / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput (left) embraces Pope Francis at the end of the papal Mass on Sept. 27, 2015. Chaput thanked Francis for coming. Pope Francis celebrated Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with Chaput and thousands came to participate. Read moreMichael Bryant / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis waves as he arrives in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for his weekly papal audience on June 24, 2015. Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis touches a toddler after kissing her at a stop in Logan Square on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015.Read moreClem Murray/Staff Photographer
Pope Francis offering a benediction as he boards the plane taking him from Philadelphia back to Rome on Sept. 27, 2015. In brief remarks before his departure, the pontiff called the United States a land "blessed with tremendous gifts and opportunities" and asked his audience to be "good and generous stewards."Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis disembarks in Philadelphia. The pope arrived from New York on Sept. 26, 2017.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis arrives at Eakins Oval for the Festival of Families concert on Sept. 26, 2015. Among the performers were Aretha Franklin and the Philadelphia Orchestra.Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis and Philadelphia's Archbishop Charles Chaput, applaud the dancers from the Pennsylvania Ballet company after their performance during the Festival of Families on the Parkway on Sept. 26, 2015. Read moreClem Murray / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis speaks at Independence Hall on Sept. 26, 2015.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Pilgrims smile as Pope Francis arrives at Independence Hall on Sept. 26, 2015. Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis waves as rides in his popemobile along Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pa. on Sept. 26, 2015. Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis rides with Archbishop Charles Chaput in the popemobile along the Parkway in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
A cardboard poster and detour sign are attached to utility pole at 18th and Arch Streets.Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
Smart phones are at the ready as the popemobile passes along the Parkway for the papal mass of Pope Francis in Philadelphia Sunday September 27, 2015.Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis gets in a golf cart for a ride to his helicopter after posing with seminarians outside St. Martin of Tours Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary following his address to the bishops on Sept. 27, 2015. Getting on back of the cart is Archbishop Charles Chaput (right) of Philadelphia.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Sisters from The Convent of Divine Love, 22nd and Green Streets have their photo taken near Eakins Oval the Parkway for the papal mass of Pope Francis in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
Smart phones are at the ready as the popemobile passes along the Parkway for the papal mass of Pope Francis in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015.Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
A figurine of Pope Francis is available for sale along the Parkway for the papal mass of Pope Francis in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
The faithful attend the Papal Mass of Pope Francis in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis arrives at the papal Mass in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Inocenia Polanco, of Philadelphia, sings a religious song while waiting for Pope Francis to arrive at Independence Hall on Sept. 26, 2015. Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Singing the national anthem, the faithful gather before Pope Francis speaks at Independence Hall on Sept. 26, 2015. Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis kisses a baby before he speaks at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Garrett Mccluskey, 12, Villanova holds a sign along the Parkway for the papal Mass of Pope Francis in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
Silvina Rios and others gather in prayer as the ticketed faithful gather in Independence Mall before Pope Francis speaks at Independence Hall in Philadelphia Saturday September 26, 2015.Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis greets Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput and others as he arrives at Atlantic Aviation in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2017.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer
Doug and Julie Bauman, of Indianapolis, line the Parkway for the papal Mass of Pope Francis on Sept. 27, 2015. Read moreDavid Swanson / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis greets inmates during his visit to Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility on Sept. 27, 2015.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Pope Francis leaves for his plane after celebrating the "Expression of Gratitude" at Philadelphia International Airport before returning to Rome on Sept. 27, 2015. Read moreSteven M. Falk / Staff Photographer
“I think life goes on and it’s up to us to have a more consistent and careful response to the message of the Holy Father,” Father Gerald Dennis Gill, a pastor at the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul, reflected a year after Francis’ visit. “The impact has been very personal — best seen in the hearts and lives of those who met him.”
At Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul, the pope said the Philadelphia church’s history focused on breaking down walls.
He invoked the mission of Philadelphia’s own St. Katharine Drexel.
“Most of you know the story of Saint Katharine Drexel, one of the great saints raised up by this local Church,” he said. “When she spoke to Pope Leo XIII of the needs of the missions, the pope — he was a very wise pope! — asked her pointedly: ‘What about you? What are you going to do?’ Those words changed Katharine’s life.”
Pope Francis also spoke at Independence Mall about religious and immigration freedom.
Residents who got to share intimate moments with the pope at the time included a 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, a 15-year-old singer, a city prison inmate, and local community activists.
