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Online Registration Officially Opens For World Meeting Of Families In Philadelphia

By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Significant progress has been made in finalizing some of the plans for the Vatican-sponsored World Meeting of Families planned for Philadelphia in September 2015.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, attending a meeting of the nation's bishops this week in Baltimore, made the official announcement that on-line registration for the worldwide event set for Philadelphia is now open and that there are high hopes that a special invited guest - Pope Francis - will attend.

"We're not likely to get an announcement of the Holy Father's visit until after the turn of the year," Chaput said, "but we've had many hopeful signs that he does intend to come."

Chaput told the bishops organizers expect between 8,000 and 12,000 delegates from many countries to participate in the conference, and a million or more to come to the Ben Franklin Parkway for the planned Papal Mass on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015.

Chaput also said more than half the cost of the event has been raised in the Philadelphia area, but much more support is needed. He did not say what organizers believe they need to put on the program, but some have estimated the expense could exceed 10 million dollars.

Click here for more information or to register:

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