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New mural to honor Pope Francis

A new mural at a Catholic school in North Philadelphia will honor Pope Francis. Officials unveiled a rendering for the mural, which will be displayed at the future location at St. Malachy School at 1012 W. Thompson St., on Thursday. The announcement of the mural comes just less than four months in advance of the pope's visit to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families.

Artist Ceasar Viveros, right, shows off the mural planned for the future home of Saint Malachy school during the Thursday announcement of a new mural to commemorate the visit by Pope Francis to Philadelphia. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Artist Ceasar Viveros, right, shows off the mural planned for the future home of Saint Malachy school during the Thursday announcement of a new mural to commemorate the visit by Pope Francis to Philadelphia. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff PhotographerRead more

A new mural at a Catholic school in North Philadelphia will honor Pope Francis.

Officials unveiled a rendering for the mural, which will be displayed at the future location at St. Malachy School at 1012 W. Thompson St., on Thursday. The announcement of the mural comes just less than four months in advance of the pope's visit to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families.

Pope Francis' scheduled to visit the city for the September event and to celebrate a Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway has spurred great excitement among Catholics in the region.

The commemmorative Mural Arts Program project will be called "The Sacred Now: Faith and Family in the 21st Century."

The 4,239-square-foot piece was designed by muralist Cesar Viveros. The mural is to be created from 153 individual panels, installed across three sections of the school building.

Officials are planning a series of paint days to get the community involved in the mural. Those are set to take place at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Father Judge High School, Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls, Holy Family Regional Catholic School, Little Sisters of the Poor Holy Family Home, Saint Helena Parish, Saint Malachy School and The Joseph Fund.

The first will take place Tuesday at Saint Malachy School.

Some panels will also be painted by World Meeting of Families Congress participants in September.

Wells Fargo is sponsoring the mural, which is expected to be completed in November.