Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, at podium, speaks about a bicycle being examined by Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput, that the city plans to give to Pope Francis, during a ceremony marking the opening of the World Meeting of Families
Philadelphia has a couple of gifts for visiting Pope Francis — an ivory-bone china bowl featuring images of Independence Hall and St. Peter’s Basilica, and a bicycle with a chain guard shaped like an angel’s wing.
Mayor Michael Nutter presented the gifts to Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP’-yoo) at the opening ceremony yesterday for the World Meeting of Families, the Vatican-sponsored conference that’s bringing Francis to Philadelphia.
Francis arrives in the city Saturday after stops in Washington and New York.
The custom-made bowl from suburban Philadelphia-based Lenox features 24-karat gold trim and inscriptions of values shared by Francis and America’s founding fathers: liberty, friendship, unity, peace and love.
The bike evokes the pope’s push for environmentally friendly transportation. It’s a Breezer Downtown 8, inscribed with Francis’ name in Spanish and church symbols. AP
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