PHILADELPHIA >> The spirit on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was infectious.
People hugged and greeted each other, talked happily and cheered with zeal when Pope Francis arrived in his Popemobile to celebrate Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday afternoon.
Celebrating the Catholic faith with pilgrims from all over the world and meeting people from diverse backgrounds has been a highlight for many of those who participated in the World Meeting of Families and the Papal Festivities, especially the nearly 10,000 of volunteers.
It certainly has been for Northeast Philadelphia resident and volunteer Jim Brighter.
“I met people from South America, Asia and it’s been great,” Brighter said while at the Papal Mass. “I’ve heard about the World Meeting of Families for many years. I felt I had to volunteer and be part of it.”
He volunteered Tuesday and Thursday during the World Meeting of Families and at the papal Mass on the parkway.
Fasoro Ayodele, a volunteer and native of Nigeria who now resides in Grand Prairie, Texas, had arrived in the city Friday night and hit the ground running. He first lent a hand at the Festival of Families and then manned the entrance to the papal Mass, posted near Spring Garden Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
“This is my third time seeing the pope,” Aydodele said. “I traveled to Rome for the canonization of Pope John II and Pope John XXIII in April, and two months later, I went back to see my archbishop from Nigeria receive the pallium from the Pope. I figured since he was coming to Philadelphia, I might as well come to Philadelphia to see him.”
Ayodele has enjoyed his time in Philadelphia and hearing Pope Francis speak, he said, especially what he shared about immigration.
“I also learned from Pope Francis that people should be happy,” he said. “In whatever they do they should be happy.”
For Gregina Bauer, a volunteer from Northeast Philadelphia, her experience helping during the Papal activities has been a tiring, but rewarding one.
Her No. 1 take away from the experience: “Being able to talk with people, and helping them connect with their faith, has meant more to me than anything.”