PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Latest developments in Pope Francis' visit to the United States. All times local:
4:50 p.m.
Pope Francis says that Americans need to remember history to avoid repeating past mistakes and that people of all faiths should join together to call for respect and dignity of others.
Francis spoke in front of about 40,000 people Saturday in front of Independence Hall. He says visiting the area where the country was born was one of the highlights of his visit.
He also says that religious liberty means people don't have to leave their religious beliefs at home to be part of public life.
After a break, Francis will take part in a World Meeting of Families festival Saturday night.
He will celebrate an outdoor Mass on Sunday for what organizers estimate will be more than 1 million people.
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4:45 p.m.
4:45 p.m.
After emerging from Independence Hall to "Fanfare for the Common Man," Pope Francis is giving a speech on religious freedom and immigration from the lectern used by President Abraham Lincoln when he delivered the Gettysburg Address.
About 40,000 people are watching the speech Saturday on Independence Mall, many of whom have been waiting since early in the morning.
Shouts of "il papa" erupted from the crowd. Thousands of others are watching the speech from large TV screens around the city.
Francis arrived on the mall in his white Jeep Wrangler popemobile, waving to crowds and kissing babies as he drove.
Following the speech, he will join a World Meeting of Families concert and on Sunday will celebrate Mass for what organizers estimate will be more than 1 million people.
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4:35 p.m.
4:35 p.m.
Pope Francis has blessed a 5-foot wooden cross that is especially important to Hispanics as he prepares to give a speech on religious freedom and immigration in Philadelphia.
Francis blessed the Cross of the Encuentros Saturday afternoon after arriving at Independence Mall for the speech. A family of seven that came to the United States from Mexico presented the cross to Francis.
Encuentros is the Spanish word for meetings or encounters. Catholic officials say the cross will be taken to dioceses across the country as a symbol of an ongoing national pastoral movement called Encuentro, which has spurred Hispanic ministry in the country.
The movement includes a three-year process of missionary activity, consultation, leadership development and pastoral discernment.
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4:25 p.m.
4:25 p.m.
The crowd is erupting as Pope Francis arrives at Independence Mall in his white popemobile for a speech on religious freedom and immigration.
Francis waved as he was driving along Market Street in Philadelphia in the open, converted Jeep Wrangler.
Bodyguards passed one baby after another to Francis so he could kiss their foreheads. A police officer handed the pope a boy in a Batman shirt; another baby was wearing a tiny peaked hat similar to the pope's iconic mitre.
Francis will give the speech from the lectern used by President Abraham Lincoln when he delivered the Gettysburg Address.
In a speech to Congress this week, Francis implored lawmakers to show compassion to immigrants.3:55 p.m.
Pope Francis and his papal motorcade have left the suburban seminary where he is staying and is riding through the streets of Philadelphia toward Independence Hall.
Francis is scheduled to give a speech late Saturday afternoon about religious freedom and immigration at the site where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed. About 40,000 attendees are expected at the ticketed event.
But first, Francis will return to the downtown cathedral where he celebrated Mass earlier in the day and transfer to the popemobile for the final 1 1/2 miles to the historic neighborhood.
Following the speech, he will join the final event of the World Meeting of Families. It will be hosted by actor Mark Wahlberg and will include performances from Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, the Philadelphia Orchestra and others.
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3:30 p.m.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey transit agencies say train ridership to see the pope in Philadelphia has been lower than expected.
As a result, some schedules have been adjusted.The seven-lane Benjamin Franklin Bridge between New Jersey and Philadelphia is closed to all but pedestrians and emergency vehicles. But pedestrian traffic has been light.
College student Christina Carabaho of Williamstown, New Jersey, and her family walked the nearly 2-mile bridge to save the expense of parking and taking a ferry. Her only complaint: She wore boots instead of sneakers.
Heading into the papal weekend, there had been fears some visitors were scared away by all the security and travel restrictions.
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2:25 p.m.
Pope Francis is resting up at the suburban seminary where he is staying before restarting a packed itinerary on his first day in Philadelphia.
Francis is scheduled to return to the cathedral where he celebrated Mass Saturday morning and transfer to the popemobile for a mile-and-a-half journey through downtown.
He will give a late-afternoon speech focusing on religious freedom and immigration at Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed.A festive night follows, with a concert featuring Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, the Philadelphia Orchestra and others. The event hosted by Mark Wahlberg caps the World Meeting of Families, which drew Francis to the United States for the first time.
On Sunday, an estimated 1 million people are expected to attend a public Mass that Francis will celebrate.
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12:55 p.m.
Pope Francis has been serenaded by a group of about 150 seminarians after arriving at the suburban seminary where he will stay while visiting Philadelphia.
The seminarians also sang "Happy Birthday" to Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, who turned 71 Saturday.
Francis will spend some time resting at the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Lower Merion before giving a speech on religious freedom and immigration in front of Independence Hall.
He will then be part of a parade along the parkway where a festival will be held for the final night of the World Meeting of Families.
The final event will be hosted by actor Mark Wahlberg and include performances from Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, the Philadelphia Orchestra and others.On Sunday, Francis will celebrate Mass for what organizers estimate will be more than 1 million people.
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12:35 p.m.
Fifty members of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas were on hand to hear Pope Francis call for the church to value the contribution of women.
The nuns received tickets to Saturday's Mass at the main cathedral in downtown Philadelphia.
He celebrated Mass in front of about 1,600 people.
Francis settled a controversy in April over a three-year Vatican investigation into the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which the sisters are part of.
The umbrella group for women's religious orders had been accused of straying from church teaching.
Francis' progressive agenda parallels their views on helping the poor and immigrants, preserving life and ending the death penalty.
Sister Catherine Darcy, of Merion, Pennsylvania, says this is a special moment for the Catholic church and that they have felt strong support from Francis.
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Pope Francis has finished celebrating a Mass, stopping to bless children in wheelchairs before leaving the cathedral in downtown Philadelphia.
Francis walked through a chapel adjacent to the main room in the cathedral on Saturday to greet ill and disabled parishioners, along with other visitors. He blessed the children and gave them a kiss on the head.
Francis delivered a homily in Spanish in front of about 1,600 people. He says the future of the church depends on an increased role for the laity and valuing the "immense contribution" of women.
He will spend a few hours at a seminary just outside of the city before giving a speech Saturday afternoon on religious freedom and immigration.
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Noon
The former Archbishop of Philadelphia who retired in 2011 amid a scandal over clergy sex abuse is celebrating Mass with Pope Francis.
Cardinal Justin Rigali joined Francis and other bishops at the Mass Saturday on the pope's first stop in Philadelphia.Rigali's successor, Archbishop Charles Chaput, also was on the altar in front of about 1,600 people at the main cathedral in downtown Philadelphia.
Rigali retired to the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee, months after a grand jury accused the Philadelphia archdiocese of sheltering more than three dozen credibly accused priests and lying about it to victims and others.
Later Saturday, Francis will give a speech on religious freedom and immigration and then join in the final night of the World Meeting of Families.
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This story has been clarified to show that Rigali is the former archbishop, but remains a cardinal.
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11:10 a.m.
Pope Francis says the future of the church depends on an increased role for the laity and on valuing the "immense contribution" of women.Francis delivered a homily in Spanish Saturday while celebrating Mass in front of about 1,600 people at the main cathedral in downtown Philadelphia.
Francis has repeatedly said women should have a greater role in church leadership, although he has rejected the idea of ordaining women.
By touching on the issue, Francis seemed intent on healing one of the major rifts in American Catholicism that has alienated many from the church.
Later Saturday, he will give a speech on religious freedom and immigration and then join in the final night of the World Meeting of Families.
On Sunday, he will celebrate Mass for what organizers estimate will be more than 1 million people.
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10:45 a.m.
Pope Francis is celebrating Mass in front of 1,600 people at Philadelphia's main Catholic cathedral.
Francis walked down the aisle of the church holding a large staff with a crucifix on top while a choir sang.Francis arrived at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Saturday morning in his black Fiat after landing in Philadelphia from New York.
Pope John Paul II spoke at the cathedral in 1979, the only other papal visit to Philadelphia.
Later Saturday, he will give a speech at Independence Hall and then join in the final night of the World Meeting of Families. On Sunday, he will celebrate Mass for an estimated 1 million people.
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10:20 a.m.
Pope Francis is set to celebrate Mass in front of 1,600 people at Philadelphia's main Catholic cathedral.
Francis pulled up in front of the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Saturday morning in his black Fiat after landing in Philadelphia from New York.
He was greeted at the steps by former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and his wife. Corbett originally invited Francis to Philadelphia.
Before going inside, Francis twice turned around to wave to the hundreds of cheering people standing outside of the cathedral.Pope John Paul II spoke at the cathedral in 1979, the only other papal visit to Philadelphia.
Later on Saturday, Francis will give a speech on religious freedom and immigration and then join in the final night of the World Meeting of Families.
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10 a.m.
Pope Francis has left Philadelphia's airport and is headed to its main Catholic cathedral to celebrate Mass for about 1,600 people.
Among those greeting Francis Saturday was a former Philadelphia police officer wounded in the line of duty seven years ago and his family. Richard Bowes' daughters presented flowers to Francis and he hugged the two girls and Bowes' son.
Francis also got out of his black Fiat to bless a 10-year-old boy in a wheelchair on the tarmac, kissing him on the forehead.
A local Catholic high school band played, including the theme song from the Philadelphia-set movie "Rocky."
Later on Saturday, he will give a speech at Independence Hall and then join in the final night of the World Meeting of Families. On Sunday, he will celebrate Mass for hundreds of thousands.
___AP
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