Pope shares stage with Queen of Soul, Bocelli

Pope Francis and an admiring throng of thousands enjoyed a little music from the Queen of Soul, Andrew Bocelli and other performers at the end of his first day in Philadelphia on his first-ever US tour.

Aretha Franklin led an all-star lineup at the Festival of Families in Philadelphia, one of the events organized by the Vatican-sponsored World Meeting of Families, which brought Francis to the city after visits in Washington, D.C., and New York.

The festival included song, prayer and testimonials from people from different continents on the joys and challenges of family life, including an Argentine couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.

After each family spoke, the pope greeted and spoke with them, and later addressed the crowd at length about the importance of families, urging people to take special care of children and grandparents.

“In the family, there are difficulties, but those difficulties are overcome with love,” he said through an interpreter. “Love is about celebration, love is <g data-gr-id="17">joy</g>, love is moving forward.” 

Folk singer Marie Miller, American rock band The Fray and Columbian pop star Juanes also performed in an event hosted by actor Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg credits his Catholic faith and a parish priest for turning him around after a rough upbringing in Boston that included cocaine addiction and a series of racially motivated attacks as a teenager.