Philly Papal weekend dodged the bullet

Editors note: This column has been edited.

THE NUMBERS FELL short - about half of the delirium-fueled, maximal expectation of 1.5 million - but numbers aren't the right yardstick, a weary but happy (and relieved) Mayor Nutter told the press yesterday.

He's right, and I will cozy myself on his lap like a content pussycat before revealing necessary claws.

This was the Philly disaster that failed to happen.

There were only three "event arrests" - one for drunk driving, one for a parole violation and one of a "complete idiot" who tried to bring a large stash of drugs in through a checkpoint, said Nutter.

The drug entrepreneur is now a graduate of the "school-to-prison pipeline," a victim of "mass incarceration."

Hotels had 90 percent occupancy, which is not the "sold out" we were hearing when the event began, and business in Center City restaurants and takeouts was bad.

The World Meeting of Families, which lured Pope Francis here, was never envisioned as an economic engine, the mayor said. Of those attending, more arrived by motorcoach than by Mercedes.

The World Meeting attracted 20,000 to Philly, shattering its previous record of 7,000. They were all happy campers, even when faced with endless lines.

The biggest positive was Safety with a Capital S.

Pope Francis was safe. The pilgrims were safe. The curious bystanders were safe. The Wawa staffers handing out free water were safe. The city was able to efficiently distribute and remove barricades and toilets overnight. (So why does it take three months to get a pothole fixed?)

I still believe Martial Law Lite was excessive, but if the city argues erring on the side of caution worked, all I can say is, "Yeah, but . . ."

The outside world - viewing on the cable networks - saw a well-oiled machine. Pope Francis hit every mark on time, or even ahead of time. This humble pope believes he should not keep people waiting. (Did I mention yesterday's mayoral press conference began 20 minutes late? And most begin late? Mr. Mayor?)

People around the world saw a clean, friendly, happy, beautiful Philadelphia. The Curran-Fromhold prison looked like an all-inclusive resort. (Well, it is.) Independence Mall shone and when the interior-lighted Popemobile rolled the parkway - under the flapping flags of many nations - Philadelphia gleamed.

The worldwide audience was not aware of the suffocating security. They didn't know about three- to four-hour waits to get past some security checkpoints. They didn't know hundreds of cars had been towed and many rail stations had been closed. All they got were the visuals, and they were great. Perception is reality.

Those of us inside the figurative barbed wire had one view, the world had another. I'm happy the outside world got a joyful, fairy tale impression of our city. It's to our long-range benefit.

Now I hop off the mayor's lap to talk about the one sour note at his news conference.

(Because I am mean) I asked why attendance did not meet expectations. The mayor said it was always presented "as a range" of from 1-1.5 million, and he didn't have numbers, and they aren't important anyway.

Speaking to the media, using language he later apologized for, Nutter said, "You scared the s--- out of people."

He presented the city as the mere provider of information - "the info is the info" - and suggested by headlines, graphs and commentary, the media had ruined everything. That's why we can't have nice things.

But mayor, I reply, you provide the info, we disseminate the info, but when what you provide changes daily, we're to blame for the confusion?

Wait! This isn't where I planned to go. Call it my personal Francis Effect.

Summary: For many Philadelphians, it was a pain in the ass. For many others, it was rapture. Was security too heavy? Yes. Did it work? Yes. Did Philly pull it off? Yes? So what's the beef?

By Halloween the gripes will be buried. What remains will be glorious memories of a global event that we blasted out of the park.

For a change, good for us.

Email: stubyko@phillynews.com

Phone: 215-854-5977

On Twitter: @StuBykofsky

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