The invitation to Pope Francis to come to Philadelphia was extended, in person, Wednesday morning.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and other Philly delegates, including Gov. Tom Corbett and his wife Susan, made their way to the Vatican early Wednesday to meet the Pope outside his residence, in St. Peter's Square.
It was there that the delegates extended the personal invitation to his Holiness.
"We Invited him," said Gov. Corbett in a briefing following the leaders' meeting with the Pope. "I feel very optimistic."
"We were very well received," Nutter said. "He was very gracious. He asked me to pray for him. I said 'yes.' I asked him to pray from me."
Nutter and other leaders also took their meeting as a chance to give Pope Francis a few gifts from the City of Brotherly Love.
"We gave his Holiness a St. Joe's Prep Jersey," said Nutter. "There are jerseys from all five major sports teams, PHL pins, a book about Philadelphia's history and letters from all the juniors at St. Joe's Prep who will be seniors next year, asking the pope to come."
Whether Pope Francis will make his way to Philadelphia for next year's World Meeting of Families remains to be seen. But, should he choose to attend, at least he'll have plenty of Philly gear to wear.
