Catholic Officials Bless New Atrium At National Shrine Of St. John Neumann, Hope For Special Visit From Pope
By Mark Abrams and Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The National Shrine of St. John Neumann in North Philadelphia is preparing to welcome thousands of pilgrims from around the world expected for September's World Meeting of Families -- and they're praying for a short visit from one "special" pilgrim.
The shrine, maintained by the Redemptorist order of priests at Fifth Street and Girard Avenue, honors the first American male saint and the first American bishop to achieve such recognition in the Catholic Church.
Father Alfred Bradley, director of the shrine, says when Pope Francis comes to Philadelphia later this year, there are possibilities.
"We're praying that Pope Francis comes, but the people from the Holy See and the archdiocese will set that schedule," he says. "We're hoping because of the uniqueness of the shrine and the presence of the body of St. John Neumann and the uniqueness of this place to the Catholic community in Philadelphia."
In 1979, when Pope John Paul II visited Philadelphia, he stopped at the shrine, and Bradley says the pope's advance man from the Vatican, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, visited the shrine in May.
"He came in and our school children were here to welcome him," he says, "And some of the people that were with him said that he was teaching them to say "buon giorno" so that when the Holy Father came they would know how to greet him."
Bradley says St. John Neumann, who died Jan. 5, 1860, was a champion of immigrants, a population he says Pope Francis also believes are deserving of special attention.
Catholic church officials and Mayor Michael Nutter joined together to bless a new atrium at the National Shrine later on Monday.
Students from Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic School celebrated the Feast Day of Saint John Neumann as a time capsule was prepared. The capsule will be placed in the cornerstone of the new atrium which was built, partially, to provide more space for pilgrims coming in September, when the Vatican's World Meeting of Families comes to Philadelphia.
Mayor Michael Nutter says Philadelphia is eager to be the host city for the Pope's visit.
"Philadelphia is fully prepared to host his Holiness, Pope Francis, and a few million or so of his closest families and friends, when he comes to Philadelphia in the fall," Nutter said.
The mayor also placed a letter in the time capsule from the Vatican verifying the Pope's visit. The capsule won't be opened for another hundred years.
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