Governor and Mrs. Corbett to Depart for Vatican Meetings; Schedule Includes Private Audience with Pope Francis

Press Release

Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett will depart Pennsylvania this evening en route to Vatican City for a series of meetings to prepare for the Eighth World Meeting of Families to be held in Philadelphia, September 22-27, 2015.

"This is an extremely special and meaningful trip for Sue and me," said Governor Corbett. "We are deeply honored to work with the World Meeting of Families on this important project. The meeting is expected to bring as many as one million visitors to Pennsylvania, yielding as much as $100 million in economic impact. The commonwealth will work very closely with the Philadelphia Archdiocese and the City of Philadelphia to ensure our visitors have a meaningful and enjoyable experience -- and come back often."

"The Governor and I are honored and humbled to make this trip to the Vatican on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania," said First Lady Susan Corbett, "The chance to have Pope Francis make his first North American trip to the commonwealth is an incredible opportunity. Philadelphia, as well as the rest of the state, has so much to offer culturally, recreationally and historically. We look forward to the Holy Father's historic visit."

The schedule includes a meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Kenneth Hackett; a meeting with the Pontifical Council for the Family and an audience with the Holy Father.

Gov. Corbett and the First Lady are accompanying Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and several members of the business and civic community who will serve as public ambassadors for the World Meeting of Families. Gov. Corbett and Mayor Nutter serve as honorary co-chairs of the event which carries fundraising duties to support crowds expected to reach one million.

Since its inception by Pope John Paul II in 1992, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe. This event takes place every three years and is sponsored by the Holy See's Pontifical Council for the Family. Each World Meeting of Families has a theme, which aims to emphasize the good news of the family and highlight its intrinsic value to the good of society. Prior World Meeting of Families have taken place in Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and now, Philadelphia (2015).

The Vatican meetings will take place from March 24-26. Costs incurred in support of the Governor and Mrs. Corbett's travel are being paid by the 2015 World Meeting of Families nonprofit.

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