So I rode into work around 10AM on Sunday, with the Papal Mass slated for 4 pm.

The main MUP into downtown had a fraction of the riders usually out on a fine Sunday, and the road it parallels was shut. The only cars or trucks belonged to the police and National Guard, there to help out the throngs of walking pilgrims (who were scared away):




Once downtown, it was obvious the city was prepared for a throng:


And this view from the 18th floor shows the mass of humanity walking into Philadelphia from across the river in Camden:


Some of the security fencing had evidently been reused from other events.


I'm told that many people with tickets for the up-close area never got there, because the wait to go through the security screening was so long. Things weren't too busy at work -- I was on the "just in case" 2nd team, and they never did need me -- so I went over to the closest Jumbotron display to see what I could. By 3pm, the downtown really did have people in it.