Heavy security snags, stops Vatican's media pool

Journalists in the Vatican press corps accompanying Pope Francis on his U.S. trip were very impressed with Philadelphia's architecture and street-fair feel when they first arrived.

But as the day wore on, many of the media representatives became increasingly soured by the heavy security measures evident throughout the city.

As we got off the bus to enter Independence Mall for Francis' address, we were all struck by the line of police cars and security vehicles flanking Sixth Street from Market to Independence Hall.

"It feels like a police state," said one journalist. Police, police, police all along the sidewalks, and Secret Service guys - well, guys in dark suits - standing on rooftops on all sides.

We got inside the Mall and were led to our seats on what are called "risers," portable platforms about eight feet high. This one had white plastic chairs, and we had front-row seats looking out on about 60 rows of chairs set out on the lawn up to historic Independence Hall.

We had perfect views of the door where Francis would emergem Lincoln's Gettysburg Address lectern and the Jumbotrons on either side. But then we noticed that our riser and another on the east side of the mall together blocked about 70 percent of the view for the roughly 25,000 people behind us.

I was embarrassed and said I'd thought the risers would be off to the side more. One of the reporters said it felt very elitist: chairs and direct views for a few at the front; standing-room-only with views of the Jumbotrons behind us.

My hunch is that this was done for security, and there was still a lot big, happy energy on the Mall. People cheered and screamed when Francis arrived, with most of them watching him on the screens, so I suppose I could invoke that now-familiar phrase, "Who am I to judge?" But I will say it didn't feel right.

Then, just as Francis' was finishing his address, we got a signal from our handlers from the Vatican Press Office that it was time to go. We all know the drill by now: get to the buses quickly and go ahead of Francis to the next venue, so that the photographers and TV folks can get images of him arriving, and print reporters can write about it.

But as we hurried south on Sixth Street we were stopped by a Philly cop who said 'you can't go there. No one's allowed until the pope leaves.'

Our principal handler tried to explain that this was the Vatican's own press corps that had been security-cleared over and over - and was traveling on the same plane. Cop said nope. You're not moving.

This lasted several minutes until a Secret Service agent saw what was happening and ran over and told the cop (who was doing his job) that it was OK to let us pass. But by then Francis had left the mall, pedestrians were filling the sidewalks, and we were obliged to stand along the wall of Independence Mall while the streets filled. The one bright spot was that as we were standing there so frustrated, a little black Fiat drove by with a man smiling and waving from the window, 15 feet away. We are used to seeing him by now, but it was so unexpected and his smile so genuine that it was one of the special moments of the trip.

An Associated Press reporter near me - who was quick enough to snap a shot on her iPhone - said "That cop did us a favor after all."

Well, maybe. But traffic heading to the Ben Franklin Parkway was so clogged that we just got stuck on Market Street, and our handler told the driver to stop outside the Marriott. "Anyone who wants to get out for the hotel or press center may do so," he said. And since my day had begun at 3:45 a.m. in New York, I decided it was time to call it a day: a day ended thanks in part to overzealous security.

We don't know if this seemingly excessive security springs from the mindset of the U.S. Secret Service or the City of Philadelphia. And maybe up on the Parkway it is contributing to a feeling of safety and joy. But "America's City," as Mayor Nutter likes to call it, might want to have a frank conversation about how it all felt in the weeks ahead.