Tickets all gone for Pope’s first event in Philadelphia

Still hoping to get tickets to see the Pope at Independence Hall? Good luck with that.

Tickets distributed by the World Meeting of Families to see Pope Francis speak at Independence Hall in Philadelphia Sept. 26 appear to have run out almost immediately. They became available at noon via Eventbrite but were listed as unavailable within moments. A total of 10,000 tickets were available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The site does state tickets could become available again — but you might be better off asking your local Congress member. Several are taking requests for the Sept. 24 appearance in Waashington, D.C.:

• Rep. Tom MacArthur (NJ-03)
• Rep. Leonard Lance (NJ-07)
• Rep. Bill Pascrell (NJ-09)
• Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)

Before the speech, the Pope will ride in a parade along the Ben Franklin Parkway — no tickets are needed to see that.

And there are still two more events for which tickets haven't yet been distributed — Saturday, Sept. 26 will be the Festival of Families concert, with the Pope in attendance. The Papal Mass will be Sunday at 4 p.m. along the Ben Franklin Parkway. Tickets for both of those will be released at noon via the World Meeting of Families site.

Louis C. Hochman is digital managing editor for NJ1015.com. Reach him at louis.hochman@townsquaremedia.com or on Twitter @LouisCHochman.