Papal pilgrims keep their cool despite long lines and hours-long waits

Pope Francis’ appearance on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to celebrate Sunday Mass drew a massive crowd made up of seemingly every age, race and nationality on Earth.

The only type of person who appeared to be absent was someone in a foul mood, even though all the usual ingredients that could comprise a simmering stew of irritation were present.

Some attendees — like those crammed together along 21st Street — waited in line for more than four hours and shuffled toward the white tent that housed security personnel and metal detectors.

In most situations like that one, you wouldn’t have to strain your ears to overhear a biting remark, an argument between strangers or just casual complaining.

But none of that even seemed to exist Sunday in the City of Brotherly Love.

“It’s just amazing,” said Lisa Roman-Lucci, of Warrington. “Nobody is upset or annoyed. It’s just joy.”

Even as hour number three came and went, the folks in line continued to wave and applaud at any helicopter or military aircraft that flew overhead.

Renditions of “Amazing Grace” ignited among small pockets of pilgrims and spread throughout intermittently.

“Everybody just wants to help each other,” Roman-Lucci added.

She was positioned along the guardrail just north of 22nd Street along with several family members, including her 9-year-old daughter, Julia Lucci.

While they were far from the stage on which the Mass was celebrated, their position gave them a perfect vantage point to see the pope make a lap around the parkway in the back of his white Jeep Wrangler.

Julia could only describe the sight as “amazing.”

“I like the pope because he is just really interactive with everybody,” she said. “I feel like he just likes to be here so I just wanted to be here to see him.”

Her mom agreed.

“He just seems to be far more progressive, but seems to be in keeping with the message of the church, too,” Roman-Lucci said.

At one point, just before Pope Francis appeared in the popemobile, two groups of children began chanting back and forth across the street to each other.

“We love Jesus, yes we do! We love Jesus, how ‘bout you?!” they shouted.

But as loud and excited as the crowd became during the pontiff’s initial appearance, they became a massive crowd of church mice — barely uttering a sound — as the service began.

“Everyone had one goal in mind,” said Winston Sealey of Perkasie. “Everyone was focused on seeing the Holy Father.”

Sealey said he admires Francis’ stance on supporting the underprivileged.

“The pope’s message to the entire world is empathy for the poor; seeing that the poor gets represented,” he said. “And, his other strong message is also about the immigrants in our country. They are a strong influence on our country and we should not turn our backs on them.”

While Sunday is recognized by Christians as the Sabbath, in Philadelphia in the fall, it also means Eagles football.

As they strolled down the sidewalk before Mass, Katie Dubinski was overheard asking her father-in-law about the score of the Eagles matchup against the New York Jets.

“I was just trying to keep track,” the Ambler resident said with a laugh.

Dubinski, who teaches kindergarten at Simon Butler Elementary School in New Britain Township, said the thing that sets Pope Francis apart from other world leaders is his “welcoming presence.”

“I love when he speaks about tolerance and accepting everyone,” she said. “He’s very motivational and speaks to everyone, not just Catholics.”

Kathy Raub, of Souderton, could barely put into words her experience of witnessing the historic visit.

“We just made it in time that we got to see him,” she said. “I don’t know why it just touches you so much. You just want to cry when you see him. Maybe it’s because he’s just so human. And, he’s what we’d all like to be.”

And with the benediction, "The Mass has ended. Go in peace," Pope Francis ended a historic Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday, and hundreds of thousands of Christians headed for the bus, train or taxi home.