Good evening, im iain page. You can feel the excitement is about to boil over in the city. Fox 29s Chris Oconnell is live in old city tonight. Chris . Reporter excitement is putting it lightly, iain. It is building with every hour as we go to pope francis arrival here to philadelphia. Ive been all over this city in the Center City Area over the past week, i tell you it is building. This town is absolutely electr electric. And its been that way and its building with more people coming to about a half hour ago the steer secure vehicle area is now in effect. The hard work is over now, folks. Time to have some fun. One of the final steps of this massive security effort the biggest this city has ever seen and now its time to exhale its been a long and arduous process getting the world meeting of families the year long plus in the planning stages now. Just 11 hours away till the holy father touches down in philadelphia. We caught up with several out and about tonight, and we asked what this pope means to you. I relate to him personally. I guess im a hit bit of a liberal catholic. I relate to the fact he is a pastor than a philosopher. Hes a guy that connects with the average person. Reporter with a million plus people expected in town tomorrow, you certainly wouldnt see it by the looks of Market Street as you can hardly see a vehicle now on Market Street. It is so shut down and i can tell you Law Enforcement, there are probably more Law Enforcement on the streets than regular people. The vehicle traffic has essentially been shut down. Take a look the other way of Market Street down here looking towards penns landing. The only vehicles you see out here are taxi cabs but the people do you see out on the streets all theyre talking about how excited they are. They just want to see a glimpse of pope francis. This town is pretty much off the charts tonight. Iain . No doubt, chris, thank you. Lets take another live look from the ben franklin parkway right now. This is a lot of information about the weekend from the popes schedule to the security perimeter event lineup for saturdays festival of families on the parkway. Weve got everything you need of course on our website head to fox29. Com. Before pope francis takes off for philadelphia tomorrow hes closing out a long day in the big apple. It began with an address to the United Nations an visit to ground zero where he empty with families of those who died in the 9 11 attack. He ended the day with a mass at Madison Square garden. And with tonights mass done, the worlds focus shifts to philadelphia. Pope francis will be touching down in our city in less than 12 hours didnt night our bruce gordon looks ahead to what we can expect from the holy father this weekend. Reporter spending this past week covering pope francis travels to washington and here to new york has at least i hope given me some sense of to look forward to when the holy father finally arrives in philadelphia. Its fair to assume the popes add major address in philadelphia saturday at Independence Hall delivered mostly in spanish will amount to a call to support immigrants to the u. S. Both legal and otherwise. He did offer a preview in his thursday address to congress. Let us extent the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Reporter its easy to assume the pontiff will at every opportunity praise the family as the Building Block for healthy society. He has repeatedly referenced the family as the reason for his trip to philadelphia. Again, from his talk at congre congress. I cannot hide my concerns for the family which is threatened perhaps its likely philadelphians bite thousands will get the chance to see pope francis up close and personal. In some cases to touch and be touched by this spiritual leader. Both in washington and in new york, the pontiff did everything within his power sometimes breaking protocol to mingle with the faithful. What we cannot know at least not yet is how much the ultra site security in philadelphia will curtail that interaction. Saturday night festival of families and sunday afternoon outdoor mass are both far larger than anything that took place in new york or washington. Its not clear whether that security will cost many in philadelphia a chance to experience their very own papal moment. Heres hoping that security is not too onerous. As for that big speech at Independence Hall saturday, hes been hammering the immigration theme again and again. Again friday afternoon at that Catholic School in east harlem he spoke to some of the children about it. Many of them are in fact immigrants but dont expect lecture, a horang at Independence Hall. Its not the popes way and all of his speeches this week he hasnt been lecturing much hes been basically been talking broad schemes, hes didnt diplomatic he understands hes a guest in this country arc very special guest, but a guest nonetheless inform new york, im bruce gordon, fox 29 news. The city of philadelphia opening its arms to visitors from around the world this weekend and fox 29 was there as buses rolled in unloading dozens of tourists at a time. Streets are closed to vehicles but theyre now filled with out of towners awaiting the popes visit. Popes schedule takes him to some of the most iconic spots across philadelphia. Next we take you inside ahead of this weekends historic visit. Thats tweeting out the sound check one of the bands set to perform tomorrow night at festival of families on the parkway. Stay with us. Well be right back. I am never getting married. Never. Psssssh. Guaranteed. You picked a beautiful ring. Thank you. Were never having kids. Mmmmmm. Breathe. I love it here. We are never moving to the suburbs. We are never getting one of those minivan . We are never having another kid. Im pregnant. I am never letting go. For all the nevers in life, state farm is there. Live look tonight at the cathedral basilica of saints peter and paul at the base of the ben franklin parkway where pope francis will celebrate mass tomorrow morning. The basilica just one of philadelphias most iconic spots on pope francis schedule when he lands tomorrow morning. We can take you and sigh. Pope francis will stan at this intricate altar inside the basilica added in the 1950s. Century after the basilica first went up. More than nine chapels or shrines surround the sanctuary. Saturdays mass is closed to the public but the chapel next door will stay open 24 hours day with more priests than usual on hand for this weakened. Later tomorrow pope francis moves to Independence Hall he will address a crowd of thousands considered the birthplace of the united states, with declaration of up pennsylvania was read in 1776, tomorrow afternoon, the holy father expected to focus on immigration and religious freedoms. Sunday morning pope francis will meet with inmates and their families at the curranfromhold correct al facility. The prison was pick. A group of inmates in the carpet tree shop built a special chair for the pontiff which he will use inside the prison. Inmate will also present pope francis with fruits and vegetables grown at curranfromhold. Where does pope francis sleep while hes here . At one of the most important catholic institutions in the country. Saint Charles Borromeo seminary in lower merion. It will not be the first visit by a pontiff. Pope john paul ii also visited the seminary back in 1979. This weekend pope francis will meet with bishops visiting for the world meeting of families and lead them in a mass. The leader of the Catholic Church we look at pope francis. His incredible journey. Thats inspiring people around the globe. Do we have anymore chips . [off screen] fellas . Uh, sorry. We were day dreaming. About that vip tailgate and game tickets . Uh yeah and that pregame sideline experience. Exactly. Or even eagle season tickets [shouting over crowd] how do you know . You both have the new instant game from the pennsylvania lottery. Yeah, the eagles instant game with top prizes of 50,000. And Second Chance prizes, including season tickets. [both sigh] the pennsylvania lottery. Bring your dreams to life. Parts of the city shut down ahead of popes visit live look right now at the ben franklin parkwayly look at that. No cars allowed. Sky fox over the ben franklin bridge at the top of the hour is last few cars made it over while closed to cars thousands are expected to walk across this weekend on that are way into the city. People are here from around the world and across or nation. One pilgrimage took almost a day and spanned hundreds of miles. All those miles and packed tour buses all the way from gary, indiana but these folks say the chance to see pope francis in certain is well worth the trip. Fox 29s dave kinchen live over penns landing tonight overlooking the bridge pack with people. Reporter no doubt lucy you cant help but feel a general warmth inside when you think about what these pilgrims are going through. In a few hours thousand of pilgrims will be making it across the ben franklin bridge behind me. Were talking about another group though making their way in through a different bridge. Lets go to some video right now. 150 pilgrims from gary, indiana are among those making a journey after traveling 800 miles by bus. Now they left around 7 00 a. M. Yesterday from gary, indiana and got into our area around 1 00 this morning and, yes, of course theyre tired but they say they are naturally excited to see pope francis. They were welcomed by members of the saint peter roman Catholic Church in merchantville where an energizing mass was celebrated and you can bet they are jazzed for saturday and sunday. Hes such a wonderful role model for us. And i just love the message that he is giving. Im already on catholic high. 36 hours lack of sleep but its been a lot of fun and its only going to get better im real excite. What you see is was get. Kind of surreal. Youre as close as we are right now he just kind of talks to you and its over before you realize it. Reporter they did not get a lot of sleep there. But they did say its amazing what coffee can do. By the way, their pilgrimage was possible after Catholic Charities in cam got together with their counterpart in gary, indiana to work out the details. Back to you guys. All right, dave. Great story. Thank you. Looking live from our roof here in old city down Market Street where thousands will be walking throughout the day tomorrow. The big question, will it rain . Fox 29s chief meteorologist Scott Williams tracking the changes. Hi there iain and lucy. Looks like most of the upcoming weekend for the holy father in philadelphia is going to be dry so thats some good news. Hey, dont forget to use twitter at fox 29 philly use the hash tag hash tag fox 29 pope. Tweet us your pictures your images that youre seeing across the entire area this upcoming weekend. As we look at the satellite radar, we have dry conditions in our area but look at the green off to the south. This is that southern system but High Pressure will likely keep the rainfall to our south but not so much the clouds along witness wind with that tight Pressure Gradient both saturday and also sunday. Sunday afternoon and evening, there might be a slight chance for a shower or some sprinkles but the bottom line, for the upcoming papal weekend, clouds, gusty breezes, and once again that slight chance for some rain. So heres the bottom line. Saturday partly sunny, breezy, mid 70s. Its going to feel a little cooler with those winds. Then on sunday, cloudy a few afternoon and evening showers mainly south and east of philadelphia. Once again, dont forget to use twitter and also that hash tag fox 29 pope weve got you covered. Lucy . Thank you very much, scott. On the eve of this historic weekend lets take a look at the fascinating journey that took a jesuit from the slums of south america to the pinnacle of religious leadership. Our bruce gordon takes look at the man around the world known as papa francesco. Reporter those lucky enough to experience a weekly papal audience in saint Peters Square get up close look look at the man who many believe has row inn egg 58ed the Catholic Church around the world. Pope francis is a very special if unlikely leader. Im not even catholic. I really like him because hes real down to earth. Hes for the common people. Hes very generous. Hes very modern. Theres a reason why the people like him so much. He understands the people and being able to see what life why people are suffering. Reporter young priest known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio ministered to his flock in the slums of bun know heiress argentina. Ultimately named archbishop later cardinal. But says papal chronic rocco palmo the shepherd never lost the smell of his sheep. He would get on a bus and go down to the slums. There was no finery, everybody new him as padre. Reporter in february of 2013, Pope Benedict xvi shock the world by announcin announcis resignation. Its very startling. Im as shockstalled as all of you. Unprecedented move that left the college of cardinals scrambling to name a successor. Bergoglio now 76 years old was preparing for retirement had his apartment all picked out. It will be interesting. Father daniel joyce with the office of admission at st. Josephs university. He was his last act as a bishop. He submitted his resignation. He pack very little. He didnt even bring his new shoes, and he had planned on going back and fading into owe live i dont know, you know, am him in the as retired archbishop and cardinal. Reporter but faith and his fellow cardinals had a different path in mind. On march 13th, 2013, bergoglio was voter the first ever jesuit pope and the first non european to hold the position in more than 1200 years. He chose the name francis to hahn are in the saint of a sissy. It quickly became clear francis was not about to change his humble, frugal ways. One of fir goals he made was to his paper boy just saying okay ive been elected pope you got to cut off my subscription to the newspaper and you know the sense of true story. True story. Reporter bergoglios leck came as a surprise to many but in retrospect says palmo it made sense. Francis he says was brought in to reform the vatican to take it back from the bureaucrats who had run it unchecked for so lo long. And he was already a much needed evangelical witness. But the credibility to reintroduce the goss bell to a western world that had grown agapai threat tick. Fans of francis quickly noticed his unique style. I admire the way approaches people and how he shows friend friendliness and humility. Reporter as for substance, papal pronouncements hot button issues like gay marriage, divorce, even abortion have led some to believe francis is taking the church in a more liberal direction. Our experts insist he is merely eliminating the traditional finger wagging over those issu issues. Saying teaching of the church is clear and im a sign of the church. Does not negate your responsibility to be there for somebody. One term francis used often is accompaniment. The church is called to accompany people whatever their situation. Hes an excellent pastoral thiel low january. Its not just about theology of ideas its about ideas that apply to peoples lives. Reporter just week after the world meeting of families here in philadelphia bishops from all over the world including our own archbishop chaput will meet to discuss family issues, sexuality, divorce, remarriage. Pope francis will of course have the last word on all of these subjects. Many admirers hope whatever francis decides policy will be mixed with compassion. Pope is the best. I really adore him. Reporter expect nothing less from this humble man who once stooped to help the lowest of his brothers carries the hopes, dreams and prayers of a billion catholics on his shoulders. Bruce gordon fox 29 news. Another live look from the parkway tonight. Before we head to break a look at some of the touching moments during the popes first days in the us. This nation under god. Consideration id like to put in my 15year notice. Youre quitting . Technically retiring, sir. With a little help from my state farm agent, i plan to retire in 15 years. Wow youre totally blindsiding me here. Whos gonna manage your accounts . This is a devastating blow i was not prepared for. Well, im gonna finish packing my things. 15 years will really sneak up on you. Jennifer with do your exit interview and adam made you a cake. Red velvet. Oh, thank you. I made this. Take charge of your retirement. Talk to a state farm agent today. The special interests in trthreatening to move ournos casinos and jobs away. This move would harm the local economy, cost thousands of jobs and spike rising property taxes. But, democrats vince mazzeo and colin bell are fighting the special interests to keep Atlantic County jobs, grow the local economy and keep property taxes affordable. Vince mazzeo and colin bell fighting to protect our jobs. And send the north jersey interests home packing. Hey let me help with that. Oh, thank you introducing the oneandonly Volkswagen Golf sportwagen. The sportier utility vehicle. Heres a live look from Philadelphia International airport. All set to welcome pope francis tomorrow morning. Take lock at shepherd one the plane of pope francis. American airline sendin sendingp theater foes of the 77 from carried the pontiff from d. C. To new york and will bring francis to philadelphia tomorrow. Even before the pope takes off from new york well be live on the air getting you ready. Our live coverage begin at 6 00 a. M. Tomorrow. Well take you through the entire weekend. You can also watch every moment streaming live on our website fox29. Com. Remember, your Mega Millions lottery drawing is neck. Good luck today on tmz harvey so Kim Kardashian either