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Papal Fiat Arrives For Philadelphia Auto Show

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The "Papal wheels" are in the house, arriving at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Wednesday in time for the Philadelphia Auto Show

One of two black Fiat 500Ls used by Pope Francis while he was in Philadelphia was driven up the ramp into the main exhibit hall by Chuck Keating, the band director for Bishop Shanahan High School -- the band that played for the Pope's airport arrival.

"So thrilling and just brought back so many good memories from when the Pope came over and blessed Michael, it was just an honor," he says.

Michael is Keating's wheel-chair bound young son who has cerebral palsy and attracted the Pope's attention at the airport.

 

pope fiat bobby hill
Bobby Hill arrives in the Papal fiat. (Credit: Mark Abrams)

 

Sitting in the passenger seat of the car, grooving to Abba's "Dancing Queen," was Philadelphia's Papal performer Bobby Hill.

"Just amazing and it was like a nice bow to the end of the Papal visit and being able to be in the car," he says. "I looked back and said that's where the Pope sat, that's where the Pope sat. Yeah, it was great."

One of the Papal Fiat's will be put up for action Friday night at the black-tie kickoff. The other will be on display throughout the week of the show and may be auctioned as well at the end.

 

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