Pope marks final day in U.S. with public Mass, correctional facility visit
PHILADELPHIA (WLS) -- A Mass that drew almost a million Catholic worshipers Sunday evening in Philadelphia, was Pope Francis' final event -- and the biggest -- on a busy six-day itinerary that marked the pontiff's first United States visit.
During the open-air Mass, held on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in downtown Philadelphia, some people waited for up to four hours to get in, some people almost missing communion. As the popemobile made its way to the venue, he stopped numerous times to kiss babies brought to him by his security detail.
During his sermon, the pope encouraged people to speak to each other with love and happiness.
Before the Mass, a small miracle happened for Mary Beth Ford and Barb Campbell, both from Chicago's western suburbs. They didn't initially have tickets, but were able to get some.
"It's miraculous, right? We had our miracle today," Campbell said.
WATCH: Continuing coverage of Pope Francis' U.S. visit
The pope departed for Rome shortly before 7 p.m. CST from Philadelphia International Airport.
Earlier Sunday, during his meeting with seminarians at St. Martin's Chapel of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, the pope gave a powerful speech regarding the church's sexual abuse crisis. He went off his prepared text remarks to say:
"I carry in my heart the stories, the suffering and the pain of the minors that have been sexually abused by priests. I'm overwhelmed by the shame that people who were in charge of caring for these young ones raped them and caused them great damage. I regret this profoundly."
Before the seminary meeting, the pope met with survivors and victims of the church's sexual abuse crisis.
Afterwards, the pontiff took a helicopter to Curran-Fromhold Correctional facility, the largest in this city. The inmates helped build a chair for the pope's visit.
Speaking to about 100 inmates, he told them that "confinement is not the same as exclusion" and that everyone has "something we need to be cleansed from - purified - all of us." Pope Francis then took time to greet each of the inmates individually.
On Saturday evening, crowds joined actor Mark Wahlberg and entertainers Aretha Franklin and Jim Gaffigan for the Festival of Families in downtown Philadelphia.
PHOTOS: Papal parade, Festival of Families concert
The pope's U.S. visit has drawn visitors from around the country and the world - as well as many Chicago-area residents.
"It's been wonderful, we've been able to see the pope up close, we've been able to hear his important messages, we're able to pray for our family and hear good messages to live by and share with our church, our friends and family - it's been the experience of a lifetime," said Lisa Medina, of Chicago's Beverly neighborhood.
