Pope Francis greets crowd, blesses babies at Commonwealth Stadium
CTV
Pope Francis waved at thousands of people and blessed babies on the Popemobile ahead of the open mass at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on Tuesday.
Pope Francis waved at thousands of people and blessed babies on the Popemobile ahead of the open mass at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on Tuesday.
The pontiff was driven around the stadium as he smiled and waved at the crowds, and kissed a few babies before mass began.
A woman from Calgary whose two-month-old baby was blessed by the Pope told CTV News she was "full of joy and overwhelmed."
"I'm happy, I'm beyond happy. I feel a lot of peace, I'm still shaking," Adriana Meyers said.
As crowds were smaller than expected — approximately 40,000 people according to organizers, instead of the more than 50,000 anticipated — organizers closed Clarke Stadium, a smaller stadium located next to Commonwealth Stadium where the Popemobile was going to drive around and spectators were going to watch the mass on big screens.
Some attendees lined up outside Commonwealth as early as 5:45 a.m., well ahead of gates opening at 7:30 a.m.
