york city. pope francis has arrived for a mass his final event in new york before he gets a good night's sleep and moves on to philadelphia tomorrow. 20,000 pilgrims have assembled at madison square garden. it has been another extraordinary day for the pontiff as new yorkers have gone gaga over pope francis. it is friday night. and big story on "action news" tonight is next stop philadelphia. and that means final security and traffic measures have just gone into effect. as of one minute ago, if you drive out of the francis festival grounds, the area shaded in light green, you cannot drive back until monday. "action news" reporter david henry is live in center city tonight. david, it is the final countdown. >> reporter: yeah, jim, the security noose is getting tighter by the hour. it is an eerie sight out here. center city is looking like a ghost town with major thorough

fares like market street shut off. it's one long cattle chute leading up to a security check point near city hall. we've never seen anything like it before and may never again. >> this is a different version of a walkable city. you don't see something like this at any point in time. >> reporter: it's the most extraordinary security undertaking the city has ever seen. major intersections are now barricaded with more to come. security check points have been in operation since 6:00 this morning. we got plenty of advance warning across all media but some were still caught by surprise. >> i think it's a real big inconvenience. i'm trying to get all around just to try to find a way to get to work. if i don't make it to work i'm looking at getting fired. i'm going in through and out and i still can't even find my bus. >> reporter: septa had warned that buses would not be running normally with much of center city divided by barricades. if it's any comfort, even

archbishop chaput shares your pain. >> as you see it's a very complicated process even getting around. i was late getting to mass this morning because of the blocking of the streets so. >> reporter: you have been affected. >> oh, yeah i've been affected. glad to share that anxiety of the pilgrims but i would have rather been on time. >> reporter: fortunately the delays were short at the check points but getting around center city is a challenge. mark and ted are volunteers for the world meeting of families. their job is to help people find where they're going tomorrow. but it won't be easy. >> we're excited to help but it's pretty taxing. a lot of hassle. >> i mean like we were just on tenth and chestnut and we walked literal around city hall trying to get around. >> it's a giant maze up and down. >> reporter: to be fair a lot of folks did say that getting through the check points went fairly smoothly. however, it remains to be seen how things go tomorrow with upwards of a million people expected out here to see the pope and just remember, that large traffic box is now in

effect. if you drive out, you can't drive back in. live in center city, david henry, channel6 "action news." jim. >> thank you, david. chopper six is above the ben franklin bridge right now which is still opened to traffic but only for the next four hours. it will be shut down at 10:00 tonight and remain closed until monday at noon. "action news" reporter chad pradelli is live in camden tonight. chad, new jersey is definitely playing a role in all of this. >> reporter: yes, jim, there it is, the be benny, the ben franklin bridge will be shut down in a couple hours. tomorrow scores of pilgrim will be walking across it and they'll be walking recover 2 miles each way but of course they have other options. the patco line will be running across the ben franklin bridge and officials here in camden tell us plenty of tickets are available. also, there are plenty of parking spots. initially these were reserved for tour buses. that didn't materialize and now they're opened to the public. this is the operations command

center here in camden. a conglomerate of law enforcement agencies working to keep the pilgrims safe for the papal visit. the mantra here, camden is the gateway to the pope. outside camden city hall a field hospital is being set up. thousands are expected to cross into philadelphia either by ferry, walking the closed ben franklin bridge or taking patco at one of its four stations. so far 18,000 patco passes have been sold. >> there are many patter company passepatco passesavaila. drpa or patco will make transportation available on the day of the events so you don't need to have the patco pass in advance. >> we are ready. our police officers and public servants will be out on the pedestrian routes. they're there to help you. they are ambassadors. >> reporter: parking is plentiful along the camden waterfront but papal visitors need to be aware of road closures.

admiral wilson boulevard will be shut down at airport circle and i676 will be shut down from morgan boulevard to the bridge beginning at 10:00 p.m. tonight. >> we want to remind you that there will be no overnight sleeping in vehicles, in parks or in parking lots or any camping. >> reporter: and you can get all the pertinent information regarding new jersey at gateway to the pope.com. of course, you can get a link to that web site at our web site 6abc.com. i'm live in camden, chad pradelli, channel6 "action news." jim. >> and more closings, chad, starting at 10 o'clock tonight, the schuylkill expressway eastbound shuts down from i476 to i-95. the schuylkill expressway westbound is closed from i-95 to city avenue. the vine street expressway is closed in both directions from the schuylkill to i-95. penndot hopes to have all these highways opened for the commute come monday morning. let's return now to new york city where the pope has

made his way through central park on the way to madison square garden. tens of thousands of people lined the roadway in the park to see the pope as he rode by and as is his want he tried to make eye contact with as many onlookers as possible. let's go live to "action news" reporter sarah bloomquist. sarah, it has been another long but apparently successful day for the pope in new york and it's not over yet. >> reporter: i was just going say that, jim. he has kept up quite the schedule here today in manhattan and it isn't over yet. he began in lower manhattan. he traveled up to east harlem. he started this day by speaking to the world's most powerful leaders and he is ending this day meeting with children, the poor and the people of new york. the pontiff's day began at the united nations where he scolded the world's wealthiest nations for harming the planet to the detriment of the weak and the poor. [speaking foreign language]

>> the interpreter: it is a selfish and bound less 30's for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak. >> reporter: the pope warned of the impact of war religious intolerance and drug trafficking. he urged the presidents and prime ministers to do more now. >> the future demands of us critical and global decisions in the face of worldwide conflicts which increase the number of the excluded and those in need. >> reporter: then the pope attended an interfaith service at the 9/11 memorial. he met with families of victims and remarked on the solidarity that emerged in the wake of the terror attacks. >> the interpreter: this pain we can also feel the capacity of the goodness that the human being is also capable of. >> reporter: this afternoon the holy father met with students at our lady of queen

of angels in east harlem. >> ♪ >> reporter: the pope seemed to love being in the company of kids many from low income and immigrant families. they showed him projects about the importance of protecting the earth. francis spoke about martin luther king and his dream of equal opportunities. >> the interpreter: today we want to keep dreaming. we celebrate all the opportunities which enable you and us adults not to lose the hope of a better world with greater possibility. >> reporter: the pope concluded that lesson for the children with some homework. he asked them to pray for him. after the mass at madison square garden he will retire for the evening on the upper east side and then, of course, he is headed to philadelphia. live in weehawkin, new jersey, i'm sarah bloomquist, channel6 "action news." jim. >> sarah, thank you so much. let's look at independence hall from our sky6 atop the dow building.

the accuweather forecast obviously a big part of this papal visit this weekend. meteorologist cecily tynan is live from our parkway studio with the accuweather forecast. cecily. >> hi, jim and i also have a tremendous view looking over the parkway, a lot of people milling about. a lot more will be here on sun. you can also see the jumbotrons. if you look up you can see that the clouds have rolled in right on schedule after a lot of sunshine earlier today and satellite6 along with action radar showing why. low pressure that's right over the border of south carolina and georgia is pushing up that cloud cover. you can see the rain band, though, the heaviest rain across the outer banks. we have some light rain across portions of virginia. really having a tough time working north. that's good news. so, the weekend forecast in a nutshell tomorrow we'll see clouds with some breaks of sunshine. it will be seasonable with a high of 75 degrees and breezy. now on sunday for the papal mass a lot more clouds. it will be windier and cooler,

winds up to 25 miles per hour, 73 degrees with a possibility of a few showers. i'll talk more about the timing of those showers with future tracker in the full accuweather 7-day forecast. all in all, though, weekend is looking pretty nice, jim. >> thank you cecily. of course when pope francis celebrates mass on the ben franklin parkway on sunday, he and the millions watching will be treated to a choir of 500 voices accompanied by the philadelphia orchestra. today we sat in on a rehearsal for a chance to hear their joyful noise. >> ♪ >> reporter: on sunday the orchestra will perform an hour before the mass begins and provide music throughout. our papal weekend coverage will include digital updates live from the news room. we'll have traffic, weather and papal news every half hour starting at 9:00 a.m. saturday and sunday. you can watch our live papal visit digital updates on

6abc.com and the 6abc news app. coming and on "action news" tonight, we'll give you a sneak peek of our coverage of the papal visit this weekend. we have "action news" anchors stationed along the parkway to give you a front row seat to all the action. and of course cecily tynan will be back with the seven-day accuweather forecast. ducis rodgers with the latest from the eagles when "action news" continues tonight.

>> ♪ >> the papal mass is now under way at madison square garden. this is pope francis' final event in new york city. he'll get some rest tonight

before heading to philadelphia in the morning. and of course the "action news" team is stationed all over the city to bring you every moment of this historic visit. my colleagues rick williams and monica malpass are live in our parkway studio with a bird's eye view for the papal visit this weekend. guys, just a spectacular view from where you are. >> truely. >> that's for sure, jim, good evening. we are broadcasting all weekend from the embassy suites and we are right on logan square right next to the cathedral basilica of saints peter and paul. our view will give you the cha tons see the end door length of the parkway. >> here is an action cam shot we have set up inside our studio from another look from our home base. we can give you a look all the way into the stage at eakins oval up to a million people expected to fill the parkway. rehearsals tonight are still under way with musicians and catholic church leaders police chief charles ramsey stopped by to make sure everything is going well which it is. heavy security but

understandable. excitement in the air jim obviously people looking for a spiritual uplifting this weekend and we he feel certain they will not leave disappointed. >> joining us now this weekend will be former "action news" reporter cathy gandolfo. she traveled to the vatican and rome many times. she'll share her experiences and knowledge of the catholic church with us this weekend. >> looking for what to it. back to you jim. >> back to you jim. >> thank you rick and monica. let's head to sharrie williams live at eakins oval. sharrie, you have a front row seat for all that will take place there this week. >> reporter: yeah, jim, a front row seat including a glimpse into what we can expect this weekend. take a look at what's happening on the stage. we know that actor producer mark wahlberg is on the stage right now. he's in the middle of a walk through for this weekend's festivities. he's a part of those and what you're hearing right now is actually a sound check for the musical group the fray. of course they are performing

this weekend as we know. but we want to give you a look into where we will be all weekend. this is such a historic moment that the 6abc studios are on the road so to speak so this is our eakins oval studio. brian taff and i will be here all day saturday, all day sunday being joined by guests to help with the coverage and show you every moment when the pope is on the parkway. of course you know that will be a large part of his itinerary. so we are ready, jim. the weekend is coming, the pope is coming be we're ready. >> just in time the the lit brothers building is getting a brand new look. the building on market street between seventh and eighth unveiled a new light display and this weekend the lights will be yellow and white for the pope's visit. it is also a great spot to watch the events as they happen and channel6's coverage of the papal will be broadcast live right there on that spectacular display. >> ♪

>> ♪ >> we have breaking news tonight. the dalai lama has canceled his u.s. tour after doctors told him that he needs a rest. the 80-year-old tibetan leader was supposed to visit america next month and that did include a stop in philadelphia to accept this year's liberty medal at the national constitution center. he has canceled his american tour. eagles-jets on sunday afternoon. a lot at stake. >> a lot at stake and the eagles in a bit of trouble. eagles facing an oh and three start. they're dealing with a myriad of injuries. key injuries. demarco murray officially listed as questionable for sunday's game against the jets. he left wednesday's practice early with a hamstring injury. worse yet two line backers out. mychal kendricks and kiko alonzo. kendricks with a hamstring injury, alonzo sprained knee. this season has been a disaster thus far. chip kelly is counting on the fact his players will not panic. >> a lot of guys that have been around for a long time

and you're going to win a lot of games and you're going to lose a lot of games and it's really how you respond when you're in those adverse situations. i think our guys are experienced in that. >> the eagles offense have more troubled than just an injured running back. ron jaworski says chip and the birds are no longer catching teams by surprise. >> i think there is some predictablity in the scheme. that's got to change. 'cause if i'm sitting here with my staff and seeing we can call where the ball is probably going before the snap i can guarantee you every on the team as a lot more people working on their staff. >> flyers hosting the islanders. in the first period there is no score. pete rose making another effort to get back into baseball. the all time hit king met with rob manfred for nearly two hours today in new york to plead his case. manfred plans to make a

decision by the end of this year. >> whether he belongs in baseball or not my opinion he belongs in the hall of fame. >> thank you ducis. >> coming up on "action news" we go back to cecily tynan with the pope francis accuweather forecast when we continue in just a moment.

>> cecily tynan is above the ben franklin parkway and cecily at least city officials, all law enforcement and medical personnel won't have to worry about excessive heat this weekends. >> that's exactly right. with the clouds rolling in we won't have a million people sporting sun burns by the end of the weekend. all in all the weather is

working out pretty well. temperatures across the region, philadelphia right now dropped down to 70 degrees from a high of 78 which is three degrees above normal. it was pretty mild. millville it's skate degrees, wilmington 71, allentown where the cloud cover is thinner 72 degrees and reading currently 61 degrees. winds have definitely been picking up especially along the shore. sea isle city the winds out of the northeast at 17 miles per hour currently. atlantic city airport 16 miles per hour. pretty breezy in philadelphia as well, 14 and then as you head farther north and west away from that low pressure to the south, the winds really drop off. reading and the poconos the winds only at 6 miles per hour. so satellite6 along with action radar showing the two opposing forces this weekend. we've got low pressure down over the border of south carolina and georgia. that's just spinning and we have high pressure north of toronto and those two opposing forces will really be

fighterring it out over the weekend. so, future tracker showing tomorrow afternoon we'll see a mixture of clouds and sunshine. the thicker clouds to the south. it will be breezy with winds out of the east-northeast 10 to 20 miles per hour. as we head into sunday afternoon, the clouds will thicken but still some breaks of sunshine and you can see a little bit of radar activity, some spotty showers mainly if millville to wilmington, maybe a couple at the shore and it will be breezy with winds up to about 25 miles per hour. association the papal speech at independence hall and the parade for the folks gathering there at noon it will be 70, partly sunny skies, 72 degrees by 2:00. by 4 o'clock, 74. by 6 o'clock, 72 degrees with a mixture of sun and clouds. and a dry day on saturday. the festival of the families on saturday evening it will be cool and cloudy so definitely take a jacket for that. at 6 o'clock 72. by 8 o'clock, 68. and by 10 o'clock, 65 degrees. and the papal mass on sunday

at 10 o'clock as they're gathering, 66 degrees and then as we head into the afternoon, the clouds will be rolling in. the best chance of a shower would be between about 4:00 and 7 o'clock. we're talking about some light showers, not widespread heavy rain. so, all in all looking pretty good. so, the exclusive accuweather 7-day forecast, tomorrow we'll see a mixture of clouds and sunshine with a high of 75 degrees. on sunday, chance of an afternoon shower, cloudy and breezy, 73 degrees. and monday a few scattered showers with a high of 77. on tuesday, sunshine is back and it feels like summer again, 83 degrees. on wednesday, mixture of clouds and sunshine, 79 degrees. and then as we head toward the end of week, the clouds roll in with a possibility of some rain and it gets a lot cooler. on thursday 69 degrees and on friday 69 as well so all in all, the weekend is looking pretty nice. back to you, jim. >> thank you, cecily. finally tonight with all the closures around town for the papal visit one synagogue found a good way to bring families together for some

quality time. adath israel some merion station presented friday morning movies today. kids had a chance to watch frozen and keeping the faith. the youngsters inand enjoyed some popcorn and some pope sicles as they watched the movies. ab news world news tonight with david muir is next. "action news" continues on channel 17 with brian taff sharrie williams ducis rodgers and please join us for "action news" at 11:00 here on channel6. now for cecily tynan, ducis rodgers, the entire "action news" team, i'm jim gardner. we hope you'll join us at 11:00. ññ

tonight, a special edition of "world news tonight." pope francis here in new york city. visits to ground zero, central park. and now, an evening mass. and the powerful moment at the 9/11 memorial. and the unprecedented security. a city on lockdown. and john boehner, revealing he's done as speaker. was the pope a factor? >> and the man shot while in his wheelchair. tonight, the family outraged. trump fights back. but what did he say that had the crowd booing?