Delco parishioners camp out to score tickets to Papal Mass

HAVERTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- It's safe to say some local parishioners are counting down the days until Pope Francis arrives in Philadelphia.

Some Delaware County residents camped outside overnight, all hoping to get tickets to the big Papal Mass on the ben Franklin Parkway. And while not everyone got those coveted tickets, most didn't leave empty-handed.

Each parish was allotted a certain amount of tickets, and it was up to the parish to decide how they wanted to distribute them.

At Saint Denis in Havertown there was a line that wrapped around the corner Thursday morning. People were brimming with excitement about the opportunity to see the pope.

Brigette Cuffia slept outside her Havertown church Wednesday night, but when she left Saint Denis' parish office Thursday morning, she had tickets to the Papal Mass on the Parkway.

Cuffia says, "I figure if the pope's going to be here and say Mass I'd like to be close and really be able to participate."

She arrived at 10 p.m. and the line grew behind her Thursday morning. Parishioners shared coffee and conversation.

Kevin McNulty of Havertown says, "The reason we're here is because this is a once in a lifetime experience to see a great leader, a great man, and Philadelphia has a great opportunity, and that's what we're looking forward do."

The parish had already organized two buses to go to the Mass on the Parkway, but there were more tickets available for the Mass and the festival of families that Saturday. The church decided the fairest way to distribute the rest was to give them out first come, first served. You could get one for each registered parishioner in your household.

Pat Landau-Smith, St. Denis parishioner, tells us, "I don't know that it's relief so much as it's a real thing now, that I know I'm going to be there, I know that I'm gonna be on parkway."

The tickets for the Mass were gone within 20 minutes, but every parishioner who lined up at least walked away with tickets to something.

Father Kevin Gallagher was able to meet Pope Francis in June, and couldn't be happier about this opportunity.

He says, "Here we are nearly 40 years later talking still about St. John Paul II coming to Philadelphia. Pope Francis is coming in 10 days."

Father Gallagher said there was no perfect time, no perfect way to distribute the tickets. They just wanted to be as fair as possible, and a lot of people ended up walking away Thursday morning very happy.