September- Pope weekend!

Pope Francis came to Philly for the World Meeting of Families this weekend. Pia's school was closed Thursday/Friday along with the city of Philadelphia! Our neighborhood was a ghost town on Friday and the travel restrictions were in place.
Saturday was the Festival on the Parkway and after getting through TSA security we got to walk along the Parkway and see the concert on the stage.
Sunday was Mass on the Parkway and this is the event that attracted people all day long (starting at 3am!) to Philly. Our street, 19th street, was a continuous commute route throughout the day.

Lots and lots of pictures and videos..... !

Here's the New Jersey Gazette article:

At Large: Francis, Joe and Pia in Philly

Pics from last week at school- Ice Cream Day!

Pia and her classmates eating ice cream



Ronnie stealing Pia's ice cream....

Thursday 9/24/2015
Pia and Mommy took an afternoon walk to the Parkway to see the Pope set-up on the Parkway:

stage is straight ahead, but that's as close as we could get

 Pia went to the baby park on the walk home and she loved playing in the sand box!

Ghost town........

Friday 9/25/2015
Grandpop, Pia, and Mommy went to the Parkway for a sneak peek of the Pope events. Along the route, Pia chased pigeons around the grass!

Breakfast
 

Videos of Pia on the swing with Grandpop:

National Guards roaming the neighborhood blocks



 

barricade checkpoint on Fairmount

Pia and Grandpop



Pope souvenir shop

Birds!




 

 

 

Video of Pia chasing pigeons:

 



Pia on the Parkway

Pia talking to the cops

Saturday 9/26/2015

Nuns

 Video at the Festival:



check out the T-shirts behind Grandpop!

National Guards

Jesus.....

 

Video of a group walking to the Parkway:



 

 

Video of outside the Basilica (the same church where Pia was baptized!): 

 

 

 

Tony in the tree

 

 Pope-Mobile Video:

Sunday 9/27/2015


People walking down 19th street

Video Pope Mobile during the day: 

Communion umbrellas

On the swing during Mass

crowds watching on jumbotrons