Here Comes the Pope?

Francis visit to Philly in 2015 seems more likely.

The National Catholic Register reports Pope Francis might visit Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families in September 2015:

Popes have not always attended previous versions of the World Meeting of Families, and there has been uncertainty ever since the election of Pope Francis whether he would make the trip.

This week, however, two senior Vatican officials on background told NCR that Francis has expressed a desire to do so. Given that the dates are still roughly 20 months away, however, they cautioned that many things could change.

An official in the Philadelphia archdiocese told NCR on Friday that “these trips are never ‘set’ until they’re official” and that church officials in Philadelphia have had “no official indication.”

“We hope, but we don’t know,” he said.

This visit has been rumored almost since the moment Francis became pope last year. Today’s story seems only to raise the expectations a notch.