Archbishop Chaput responds to pope's announcement

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Archbishop Charles Chaput just returned to Philadelphia from Rome on Sunday.

On Monday, he talked candidly about his excitement and trepidation over the upcoming papal visit.

"I am excited and scared at the same time. It's a big responsibility," Chaput said.

Archbishop Charles Chaput was in the room with Pope Francis in Rome last week when the pontiff announced that he will attend the World Meeting of Families.

Chaput said he'd known for months that the pope was coming to Philadelphia so he was thrilled to hear him finally make it official.

"Right before he spoke those words he pointed to me because he saw me as he was coming into the room and made a point of letting me know that finally he was responding to my persistent invitation for him to make an announcement about this," Chaput said.

Chaput said when Pope Benedict first proposed having the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia 2.5 years ago- he had his concerns. Philadelphia was at the center of the priest sex abuse scandal. There were financial issues and low morale in the diocese.

Today, Chaput sees the papal visit as an opportunity for healing.

"I am really enthusiastic about this now and it could be a rebirth of the diocese and I am grateful for this opportunity," Chaput said.

The World Meeting of Families begins with four days of seminars for parents and young people. It's a Catholic-sponsored gathering, but everyone is invited.

"We have about a hundred speakers. 24 of them are not Catholics. We have people from the Jewish community, from the Protestant communities. We even have an atheist giving one of the talks," Chaput said.

Chaput said he doesn't know what the pontiff's message will be to the masses. He's known Pope Francis for 18 years and said he's full of surprises.

"I have been impressed with him for a long time, and I think that the world now is very impressed with him," Chaput said.

Chaput said that the pope's advance team will be coming to Philadelphia in February to start figuring out some of the details of the visit.

And in January, the archdiocese expects to have a better idea of the cost once organizers know how much local, state, and the federal governments will contribute.