Why’s he coming, anyway?
He’ll be here as part of the World Meeting of Families Congress, the world’s largest Catholic gathering of families, which is taking place Sept. 22–25. While he’s in town, the pope will be making a speech at Independence Mall and at the World Meeting of Families celebration on Saturday, celebrating a public Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday, and eating cheesesteaks 24/7. Just kidding; we have no idea what’s on the papal menu, but you can view his full itinerary here.

How will this affect me?
Mainly transportation. Traveling into and around the city will be a real sticky wicket (we have been waiting our entire lives to use that phrase in a sentence). Finding parking in Center City will be even more difficult than usual (read: impossible). There will also be road closures, changes to public transportation service schedules, and tons of people on the buses, subway, regional rail, roads, sidewalks…everywhere. They’re gonna be everywhere. Except portions of I‒76, I‒676, Route 1, Center City exits off I‒95 and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, all of which will be closed at one point or another.

What about public transportation?
Public transportation will be operating on special schedules during the weekend, and the SEPTA Regional Rail station at Temple will be closed. Special passes are required for travel on regional rail, and a limited number of regional rail stations will be open.

On the Broad Street subway line, current plans call for local pickup service to be available at the Cecil B. Moore station near Main Campus and at the Erie station near the Health Sciences Center campus. Regular SEPTA tokens and transpasses can be used over the weekend. Bus lines will be on detours due to street closures. Expect very high volume on public transportation. Bring hand sanitizer.

Visit the SEPTA and PATCO websites for updated service and fare information.

Will the Owl Loop and TUr Door shuttles be running?
Shuttles will operate on their normal schedules; however, service may be a wee bit delayed by 1.5 million extra people on the roads and crosswalks. For more information on shuttle services, visit the Construction, Facilities and Operations website.

BUT WILL CLASSES BE CANCELED?
Classes will be canceled at Temple University’s U.S. campuses (including Main Campus) on Friday, Sept. 25.

Will dorms and dining halls be open?
Yup. Residence halls and food services will continue to operate over the weekend. Added bonus: The pres is throwing a barbecue on Saturday.

May I have guests in my residence hall?
The guest policy for each residence hall will remain the same the weekend of the pope’s visit. If you don’t already have it memorized, see the Guest Privileges (page 10) section of University Housing and Residential Life’s Undergraduate Rights, Responsibilities and Resource Guide. Guest Privileges appear on page 6 of the Graduate Resource Guide.

What else will be open on Main Campus the weekend the pope’s in town?
Pretty much everything. The TECH Center, Paley Library and Campus Recreation will be open during the weekend. The Computer Services Help Desk will also be staffed.

The Student Center, including the Game Room, will be open normal hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with free evening movie showings. The Valaida S. Walker Food Court and the bookstore will be closed.

Campus Safety Services, Operations, Facilities Management and other staff will have your back, as always; those guys never take a break.

What about Temple’s other campuses?
At the Health Sciences Center campus, the Student Faculty Center, including the recreation center, will be open Friday, Sept. 25, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The bookstore will be closed. On Saturday and Sunday, the center will be used by the Temple University Health System. On Monday, the center will resume normal operations.

Temple University’s Center City campus (TUCC) will operate normally during the week of Sept. 21, except it will be closed on Friday, Sept. 25. Access to TUCC will be restricted on Saturday and Sunday.

The School of Podiatric Medicine will also be closed that weekend.

At Ambler Campus, the main parking lot (Lot 1) on Meetinghouse Road may be used for SEPTA Regional Rail parking. Anyone who needs to access the campus will be able to park in the Learning Center parking lot.

Note that shuttles between Main Campus and Ambler do not run on weekends.

What's the deal with parking?

If you have overnight parking in the Liacouras Garage...
...you will be contacted and reassigned to the Montgomery Garage (11th Street between Montgomery Avenue and Berks Street) from Friday, Sept. 25, through Monday, Sept. 28. Exceptions will be made for students with disabilities who need to leave their vehicles in the Liacouras Garage.

If you have semester and monthly parking...
...and wish to park at Temple on Saturday, Sept. 26, or Sunday, Sept. 27, you must make advance arrangements with the Office of Parking Services by Monday, Sept. 21. You may be reassigned to a lot other than your normal one. There is limited capacity, and reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Students without advance reservations will not be permitted to park over the weekend. Contact parking@temple.edu to reserve a spot. Please be advised that your parking credential or pass may not be transferred to another individual.

If you live in the Center City security zones...
...and are required to move your car, parking will be available for a prepaid rate of $17 per day in the Montgomery Garage. Preregistration is required, and you must have a valid Temple ID to reserve a spot. Visit the Office of Parking Services on the first floor of the Montgomery Garage or online at TU Parking Account. Directions for online registration can be found at temple.edu/parking. 

Will I be able to check Facebook every five minutes and call my grandma?
Here’s hoping; Temple’s TUsecurewireless network and the university’s phone system are expected to be fully functional during these events. Wireless networks have been working to increase their systems to handle demand. Check with your wireless carrier for more information.

Is this information subject to change?
But of course; you can find regular updates here.

Where can I find more information?
The World Meeting of Families website has detailed information about the week’s schedule of events, including the Papal Visit Playbook, which is specifically designed to help Philadelphia-area residents prepare. Philly.com has also published Papal visit: Frequently asked questions.