Pope confirms Philly trip for big conference

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

Organizers of the World Meeting of Families for months were coy when asked if Pope Francis would come to Philadelphia for the massive Roman Catholic-sponsored gathering.

It turns out that when the pontiff finally confirmed his attendance Monday, organizers already had gotten inside information from an unimpeachable source: Francis told Gov. Tom Corbett during a Vatican meeting in March that he would make the journey, his first papal visit to the United States.

“The Holy Father answered our invitation by whispering three words in Tom’s ear: ‘I will come,’” said Susan Corbett, Pennsylvania’s first lady.

Protocol kept them from saying anything publicly until now, she said at a news conference hours after the pope’s statement.

Still, the timing of Francis’ announcement — made during an interreligious Vatican conference on traditional family values — came as a bit of a surprise and set cellphones abuzz in Philadelphia about 3:30 a.m. Organizers had not expected official word until later next year.

The September voyage will come at a time when the U.S. church is trying to keep Catholics in the fold, including Latino immigrants who have been joining Protestant churches or leaving organized religion in significant numbers.

Expectations also will be high for Francis to address the clergy sex-abuse scandals.

The World Meeting of Families is a conference held every three years in a different city to celebrate the importance of family. It will be the first pontifical trip to the U.S. since 2008.

Details of Francis’ itinerary will not be finalized until next spring or summer, officials said.