Philadelphia may be the City of Brotherly Love, but lately it’s been more like the City of Little Brotherly Oversensitivity. When The Washington Postcritiqued Philadelphia for its overbearing security precautions prior to Pope Francis’s visit, Philadelphia City Paperfired back with a bunch of reasons why DC was a lesser metropolis. Washingtonian‘sinterview with the author of that Post piece, Francis Stead Sellers, got Philadelphians even moreexercised. As Francis’s Fiat got closer, the town that put up with Jonathan Papelbon with three-and-a-half seasons became very un-dude.
But the visit was a big deal for both cities, and nerves are to be expected. Now that Pope Francis has left the US, it’s only fair to ask who did a better job hosting him. Let’s go to the tape.
Biggest Celebrity
DC: President Obama
Philadelphia: Mark Wahlberg
Winner? It’s close, but the leader of the free world edges the star of Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Philadelphia: According to NBC, Philadelphia felt like a “police state” over the weekend. Also, the city drove away the homeless, who the Pope has been outspoken about helping. Where was the brotherly love?
Winner? DC. Both cities were locked down, but only one place felt like a fascist nightmare.
Public Turnout
DC: Though thousands lined the streets to watch the popemobile go by at various points of Francis’s visit, the Moral Action on Climate Justice rally on the National Mall had a very underwhelming turnout, despite appearances from Moby, Victoria Justice, Sean Paul, and Natasha Bedingfield. At the National Park Service’s urging, organizers planned for 200,000 attendees. Only about 2,000 showed up.
Philadelphia: Organizers expected 1.5 million people at Sunday’s outdoor mass. It drew hundreds of thousands, but the extreme security percautions scared plenty of people away from trying to come near the Pope (the city’s mayor blamed the media).
Winner? Philadelphia. They let down the pope, but we let down Moby.
Papal Offering
DC: An elegant sculpture of an ascending dove. Also, Congress gave the pope a glass of water (which a congressman from Philadelphia stole).
Philadelphia: A China bowl, a bike, and a free Wawa hoagie (which he never ended up getting)
Winner? DC. Philly Mayor Michael Nutter should have known that the pope is on a strict diet, and that tempting his Holiness with divine deli meats, heavenly hero rolls, or blessed meatballs is a borderline sin.
Who Did a Better Job Hosting the Pope: DC or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia may be the City of Brotherly Love, but lately it’s been more like the City of Little Brotherly Oversensitivity. When The Washington Post critiqued Philadelphia for its overbearing security precautions prior to Pope Francis’s visit, Philadelphia City Paper fired back with a bunch of reasons why DC was a lesser metropolis. Washingtonian‘s interview with the author of that Post piece, Francis Stead Sellers, got Philadelphians even more exercised. As Francis’s Fiat got closer, the town that put up with Jonathan Papelbon with three-and-a-half seasons became very un-dude.
But the visit was a big deal for both cities, and nerves are to be expected. Now that Pope Francis has left the US, it’s only fair to ask who did a better job hosting him. Let’s go to the tape.
Biggest Celebrity
DC: President Obama
Philadelphia: Mark Wahlberg
Winner? It’s close, but the leader of the free world edges the star of Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Security Actions
DC: Police from the many forces that have jurisdiction in the District called in lots of backup, closed roads, and banned selfie sticks, but their efforts had plenty of silver linings. They bent over backward so a little girl could meet the pope (OK, that turned out to be a setup) and didn’t balk when Francis decided to have lunch with DC’s homeless rather than politicians.
Philadelphia: According to NBC, Philadelphia felt like a “police state” over the weekend. Also, the city drove away the homeless, who the Pope has been outspoken about helping. Where was the brotherly love?
Winner? DC. Both cities were locked down, but only one place felt like a fascist nightmare.
Public Turnout
DC: Though thousands lined the streets to watch the popemobile go by at various points of Francis’s visit, the Moral Action on Climate Justice rally on the National Mall had a very underwhelming turnout, despite appearances from Moby, Victoria Justice, Sean Paul, and Natasha Bedingfield. At the National Park Service’s urging, organizers planned for 200,000 attendees. Only about 2,000 showed up.
Philadelphia: Organizers expected 1.5 million people at Sunday’s outdoor mass. It drew hundreds of thousands, but the extreme security percautions scared plenty of people away from trying to come near the Pope (the city’s mayor blamed the media).
Winner? Philadelphia. They let down the pope, but we let down Moby.
Papal Offering
DC: An elegant sculpture of an ascending dove. Also, Congress gave the pope a glass of water (which a congressman from Philadelphia stole).
Philadelphia: A China bowl, a bike, and a free Wawa hoagie (which he never ended up getting)
Winner? DC. Philly Mayor Michael Nutter should have known that the pope is on a strict diet, and that tempting his Holiness with divine deli meats, heavenly hero rolls, or blessed meatballs is a borderline sin.
Winner overall? Clearly DC.
Your move, Philadelphia.
Most Popular in News & Politics
Whatever Happened to Permanent Daylight Saving Time?
Report: Obama’s Book Says He Continued to Smoke in the White House—a Lot
Why Did Rebecca Romney Move to DC?
Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People
The Remarkable Story of Vivien Thomas, the Black Man Who Helped Invent Heart Surgery
Washingtonian Magazine
February 2023: 100 Very Best Restaurants
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
Opossum for Thanksgiving? A Look at Presidential Food Quirks.
Guest List: 5 People We’d Love to Hang Out With This February
Why Did Rebecca Romney Move to DC?
What If January 6 Had Worked? A Comic Explores That Disturbing Premise.
More from News & Politics
Opossum for Thanksgiving? A Look at Presidential Food Quirks.
Coachella Sues Moechella, Saying the DC Protests Infringe on the Music Festival’s Trademark
Metro Head Randy Clarke Talks About How It’s Going So Far
Talking Movies With George Pelecanos, Who Is Showcasing Some of His Favorite ’70s Films at AFI Silver
Inside a DC Bar’s Long, Strange Quest to Rent a Groundhog
Guest List: 5 People We’d Love to Hang Out With This February
Why Did Rebecca Romney Move to DC?
PHOTOS: Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen Opening Celebration