PHILADELPHIA >> With all the excitement about the Pope’s arrival in Philadelphia, only select few will get time face-to-face with the Pontiff, but two families spoke Thursday at the World Meeting of Families about their upcoming opportunities during his visit.
Jerry Davis and his family, Chesterbook residents, will be presenting gifts to Pope Francis during the Mass for the Archdiocese at the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul. Davis was chosen, in part, for his role in raising attention and funds to save four Archdiocese schools that were in danger of closing.
“As a kid from West Philadelphia would have an opportunity to be in close proximity to His Holiness, not just a pope but this pope, who is a wonderful person,” Davis said.
He appeared along with the Bowes family, who were selected to greet Pope Francis at the airport when he arrives, along with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Archbishop Chaput and Governor Tom Wolf.
Rick Bowes was a Philadelphia police officer when he was shot in the line of duty in 2008. His family has been part of St. Christopher Parrish in Northeast Philadelphia for 10 years. The family was surprised during the celebration of a mass a few weeks ago with the news that Rick, his wife Bernadette, and his three children would be greeting the Pope.
“I’m so grateful and humbled by this gift. I definitely struggled these past couple of weeks, asking am I really worthy, what does this mean for us, and what is the next step,” Bernadette Bowes.
Davis also said he was humbled by his selection to present gifts to the Pope. He said if he could ask the Holy Father anything it would be what he could do to be a better person.
“As a servant leader, everywhere he goes he galvanizes people and gives hope, not just about being Catholic. Everybody should love what their faith is. Even people who don’t have any, we can all be good,” Davis said.
Everyone involved said that greeting the Pope would be a moment that would last a lifetime.
Thinking about his children, Rick Bowes said, “They don’t realize this, after Saturday morning their lives are going to be changed forever. We do not know how, but somewhere in the course of what their lives are supposed to be, it is going to be changed, for the better I believe.”
