It's not clear how many people attended the World Meeting of Families festival Saturday — but it sure was a lot.

The Secret Service had estimated the festival space on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway could fit about a quarter-million people, the Associated Press reports. Still, there were gaps along sidewalks even at the height of attendance.

At the gathering, the Pope met with families from the U.S., Australia, Ukraine, Jordan, Nigeria, and his homeland of Argentina. One engaged Australian couple, Camillus O'Kane and Kelly Walsh, told the Pope they are concerned about divorce and moves to change the legal definition of marriage.

The Pope has infamously said he would not judge priests for their sexual orientation, saying in 2013, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" And in August, he said the Church should embrace divorced people and should not keep them "at arm's length." But he has also maintained that marriage is between a man and a woman, and a holy union.

Before leaving, Francis asked everyone to attend Mass Sunday. Organizers estimate more than 1 million people will attend his Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. He also painted the final stroke on a mural that will hang in Philadelphia in honor of the World Meeting of Families.

The festival included musical performances from Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin and others, with actor Mark Wahlberg MCing.

Train ridership was lower than expected Saturday, but officials are still anticipating the largest crowds for the Pope's Sunday night Mass.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

THE POPE'S SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY

  • 9:15 a.m. Meeting with bishops at St. Martin's Chapel, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
  • 11 a.m. Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
  • 4 p.m. Mass for the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
  • 7 p.m. Visit with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families, Atlantic Aviation
  • 8 p.m. Departure for Rome

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