10,000 volunteers sought for World Meeting, papal visit

Organizers of September's World Meeting of Families need 10,000 volunteers to help with everything from greeting visitors at 30th Street Station to live-tweeting events.

Registration is now open for more than 100 events for the conference, Sept. 22 to 27, and Pope Francis' visit as part of the event.

The five-day Catholic convention is expected to draw 15,000 people from 150 nations. More than 1.5 million are expected to flood the Parkway for Francis' Sunday Mass on Sept. 27.

The registration website went live Monday at http://worldmeeting2015.volunteerhub.com/

"Whatever your passion, whatever your talent, there is a role for you," Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families Philadelphia 2015, said at a news conference at the Convention Center Monday morning.

Farrell invited Catholics and non-Catholics "to represent our entire region with all of the pride, kindness, and hospitality we know exists here."

Volunteer opportunities include managing crowds, assisting visitors and welcoming committees, providing translation services, and serving as "digital diplomats" who will be responsible for tweeting and posting photos and videos on social media.

Aramark will provide colorful and easily identifiable branded uniforms, Farrell said.

Organizers say there is a significant need for bilingual and multilingual volunteers.

Volunteers must be 18 or older and will need to fill out some personal information to register online. If they pass a background check, they can then log onto an account and select specific events, dates, and times for when they would want to volunteer.

Individuals or families interested in hosting families are also being encouraged to sign up through the World Meeting of Families website.

On Monday, Farrell was joined by representatives of local universities and corporations that have already committed to help.

Rosalie Mirenda, president of Neumann University and a member of the board of directors for the World Meeting of Families, said she is counting on support and energy from area universities.

"These are places full of student enthusiasm and idealism, where questions are asked about 'How can I make a difference,' " Mirenda said. "Now, with Pope Francis, we have a transformative global leader who is asking the same question, and he's challenging all of us - no matter our faith - to find the answers."