The Final Hours: What Manayunk and Roxborough Need to Know About the Pope's Visit

By KARA SEYMOUR and STEPHEN SILVER (Patch Staff)

After more than a year of planning, Pope Francis’ historic visit to Philadelphia is set to begin in less than 24 hours. The Pope arrives in town Saturday morning.

What do you know need to know as a resident of Manayunk or Roxborough?

Compared to some parts of the city, Manayunk and Roxborough have things relatively easy.

The Pope himself isn’t coming to Manayunk. It’s far outside of the zone in which cars are being towed and pedestrian traffic is restricted. Main Street and all other streets will be open (although I-76 will be closed.) In fact, the Manayunk Development Corporation said last week that most of Manayunk is open for business Pope weekend- and that many restaurants and other businesses will announce specials for the week.

Meanwhile, the Secret Service released details last week surrounding security during thePope’s visit to Philadelphia.

A map released this week by the Secret Service shows two “Secure zones,” which will be surrounded by security checkpoints. The Pope’s speech on Independence Hall, scheduled for 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, will be for ticket holders only. A secure zone will be set up in that area.

The Parkway secure zone, which surrounds the art museum, has been set up where the Pope will give a public mass on 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. There is a section for ticket holders only, as well as a public section but all must go through security.

The following items are prohibited through the security checkpoints:

• Aerosols

• Ammunition

• Animals, except for service animals

• Backpacks and bags exceeding 18” x 13” x 7”

• Balloons

• Bicycles

• Drones

• Explosives, firearms, or weapons

• Glass, thermal, or metal containers

• Hard-sided coolers (soft-sided thermal coolers are allowed)

• Laser pointers

• Mace or pepper spray

• Packages

• Selfie sticks

• Signs exceeding 5’ x 3’ x 1/4” made of any material except cardboard, poster board, or cloth

• Structures

• Supports for signs and placards

• Toy guns

According to the Secret Service map, the following streets have been identified as pedestrian routes to all event sites during the Pope’s visit, Saturday and Sunday.

See the Patch’s full Pope visit coverage here.