longtime nbc anger and reporter terry ruggles brought viewers complete coverage.e couldn't think of a better person to help us do the same thing this time around. terry decided to help us out with all of the preparation and the impact of pope francis' visit. talking about the security. today we saw pope francis out there getting so close to the children and everyone, which i'm sure made secret service feel very nervous. >> i'm sure. let's do a comparison. this weekend, just like in 1979, more than a million people are expected to crowd on the center city streets and gather around the art museum area to see the pope. but police, on duty 36 years ago will tell you that while that estimated number will be about the same, the mood of the moment will be different, and it's just unavoidable. >> human values -- >> reporter: 36 years ago, more than 1 million people packed the parkway to see the holy father. hundreds of thousands lined broad street as his motorcade moved to logan circle. more than a million, like the number anticipated for pope francis. but the cops who we

terry ruggles is making a special appearance this week.ou were there when pope john paul ii visited in 1979 and wanted to be a part of this coverage, we wanted you to be a part of it, as well, and are delighted you are here. >> it is good to be here. what happens this week, a moment in history for everybody who's involved, but some of the police and security teams that will be on duty this weekend, they will have four legs. mounted police are expected to play a big part in crowd control. it was the same thing 36 years ago when pope john paul ii came to philadelphia, so here's a story about a guy who saddled up to meet the pope. that's butch walking through the philadelphia police department stables in the northeast. you may remember him as andy reid's body guard at oogeagles games, but before pig skin, butch was into horse hide. butch was part of the mounted patrol in 1979 when pope john paul ii came to philadelphia. the morning the pope went to the civic center, butch and three other mounted patrol officers were sent around back. you're t

philadelphia. >> as part of nbc 10's coverage, we are bringing you back a familiar face. >> we are, terry rugglescovered pope john paul ii visit in 1979. now he is returning to help increase our coverage. he's joining us tonight. welcome back, terry. great to have you. >> i'm not sure if i should feel old after that introduction. >> you didn't retire after all. >> reservist coming back to active duty, that's right. let's talk about 36 years ago, because 36 years ago like so many people, barb made special plans to see the pope, but what is it they say about the best laid plans of mice and men, or maybe it's murphy's law, this mother from montgomery county was not going to be denied when some complications came up. barb says when pope john paul ii came to philadelphia 36 years ago, she was able to turn lemons into lemonade. >> i had planned to go to the mass. >> citizens, you must strive to preserve. >> reporter: but the day of the mass was the only day the hospital had open to test her 11-year-old son christopher suffering from an auto immune disease. she didn't give up hope on seeing the pope. th

who better to tell those stories than former nbc anchor and reporter, terry ruggles.hen pope john paul visited in 1979. he came out of retirement to help share some of those stories. we're so appreciative. >> no matter who the pope, the goal of everyone is to meet him. so when you think about it, anyone who crowds wherever the pope is going to be this weekend is hoping the pope will stop and come over to them. we'll have to wait and see if the pope came over to them. 16 years ago, one well-known philadelphian had a very good way to get to meet the holy father. >> brian is on right, his dad, jim, the former general manager of the philadelphia eagles, next to him. and john paul on the far left. that's right, i said john paul. he was born just a few months before john paul ii came to philadelphia. >> i said, hey, let's name him after the pope. >> with a baby named john paul and the holy father coming to the parkway, murray knew he had to be there. like more than a million others, they waited patiently for the pope to go by in the popemobile. zblaz the crowd was walking a

. >> we're going to be hearing for weeks, months, years terry ruggles still talking about the holy father's visit 36 years ago. >> greeting one of the volunteers. that's been the bright orange t-shirt that's been worn all throughout the world meeting of families. >> they were out at the airport helping the visitors come and thunderous applause as pope francis wraps up his visit here in the united states. this is the final event before he boards that plane to head back to rome. and if you're opportune tuning in for football night in america, by the way, here on nbc 10, it is coming up next. >> but if you'd like to keep watching our continuing coverage, you may do that by turning to cozi-tv. you can find that on comcast channel 248, verizon 460, and over the air on 10.2. and we are streaming live on the nbc 10 news app. >>> in downtown detroit, sunday night football comes to ford field, as the lions look for their first win of the season against the so far undefeated broncos. matthew stafford and his team lost their first two games on the road. now they hope they can win one at home. to do th

and terry ruggles was a young cub reporter back then. >> i love when you talk like that. >> so obviously things that are changed since then. and security's got to be one of them. >> i was watching monique's report. it's interesting, 36 years ago there were thousands of people at the airport, and bishop's band was there. today it's shanahan. chef is talking about hundreds than thousands. i think that's significant and talks about the security of things. so a different situation. the other thing i find ironic, new york city is only about 100 miles from here. so they are going to jfk to get in a plane and it's mostly ceremonial. those helicopters could make it here in real quick time. that plane is going to circle around and do a loop and land. philadelphia is probably in the flight path for that kind of thing. it will be ceremonial. we'll see it about 9:45. a comment to matt's situation, the security. he's talking about the state police. one quarter of all pennsylvania state police are on duty today in philadelphia. 1,000 state policemen pulled in from around the keystone state to do their

. >> terry ruggles has joined us once again to help us with our coverage of the pope. the pope would not want to hear the homeless are having trouble getting their meals. >> it is an obstacle because the pope's visit is creating transportation problems. cathedral kitchen in camden, new jersey, which is the largest soup kitchen in camden is gearing up to combat that challenge. >> reporter: on a normal day the kitchen delivers 1600 meals to the shut-ins in the city. but security for the pope's visit means the delivery trucks cannot be on the street on sunday. so on saturday two meals will have to be delivered to each client. >> think about it. we're already doing 1500 meals a day. now 3200 meals prepared, packaged, prepped. >> we had made a homemade garlic butter. >> reporter: but not everybody is working on the double order. the culinary class if the kitchen is learning how to make what they're calling pope pizzas. >> start with your seam at the bottom -- >> reporter: joan's baking class is making pope pretzels. >> pizza is apparently the pope's favorite food and pretze

i'd like to think many years from now when i'm terry ruggles' age, i'd like to think i'll think backi was there, remember that special feeling i have. the people in the crowd, talk to them, they all have that special feeling. >> this archdiocesen children's choir. i'll keep an eye on it here on the parkway and you keep an eye on it back in the studio. live outside the basilica, nbc 10 news. >> terry said if you're lucky in 36 years you'll come back and offer insight. >> remind me to cancel my lunch with him. >> everyone is smiling. we'll have it all for you, live. >> let's take a break right now. stay tuned as we continue our coverage of the pope in philadelphia. ♪ with the card most accepted in the philadelphia region, you have the compassion and security of blue cross. giving you the power to do more. independence blue cross. live fearless. >>> we are continuing our live team coverage of the pope in philadelphia. he's here, he's landed and he is pulling up right now to the cathedral basilica of saints peter and paul. >> terry ruggles, in just a matter of minutes. there's the suvs o

we're glad to have terry ruggles back with those. and shining a papal light on twitter. ahead how the social media site is celebrating the visit to washington, new york and philadelphia. >> through twitter, you can check out periscope and see what happens here behind the scenes on "nbc 10 news today." you can talk with us, we'll chat with you as much as possible. i was answering some questions on periscope wondering where vai was. i think they were dils pipted to see me. and people with a lot of questions. don't laugh at that. you can talk to us, nbc philadelphia. at longhorn, steak is all you need. its not all you get. longhorn's great american steak dinner for $12.99. perfectly seasoned sirloin with your choice of side. plus, an appetizer, or a dessert. all with fresh salad and unlimited bread. the great american steak dinner, for $12.99. tonight, only at longhorn steakhouse. you can't fake steak. for lunch try our steakhouse burger, or any steakhouse lunch combo starting at $7. >> the phillies could be making lots of changes but one thing, the team gave the interim ma

. >> and terry ruggles joined us yesterday and joins us again. >> that bridge was opened on the 1956 -- >> you didn't cover that one? >> i did cover it when they opened it again and let people walk across, and that bridge doesn't have that happen, almost a two-mile stretch, and if you are going to do that, if you are on the jersey side make sure you bring your camera, because when you come down, it's the best view you will have with center city with the sun coming from the east and the skyline of philadelphia looks like oz. really pretty. >> in all seriousness, terry has knowledge about what went on in 1979 and you were here last night and watched everything that happened. i want to get your impression. >> yesterday at this time when we were altogether, the pope was not even here yet. i am exhausted from yesterday. i mean, he didn't even have his ground at philadelphia international airport at 7:30 yesterday morning and looks like he has been here and done enough things for a week. >> a grueling schedule, and including the seminary yesterday, and last night when we saw him speak, he

. >> that was in 1979 when pope john paul ii visited and longtime nbc 10 anger and reporter terry rugglesght viewers complete coverage. we couldn't think of a better person to help do the same thing. >> we dragged terry out of retirement to help tell stories of the preparation and impact of francis' visit. >> and differences. absolutely. you only need to look around and see differences. think about in 1979, more than 1 million people expected to be in center city area and around the art museum. police on duty, 36 years ago, will tell you it's about the same number as estimated today, the mood of the moment today will be different and it is unavoidable. >> human values -- >> reporter: 36 years ago, more than 1 million people packed the broad street as his motorcade moved to logan circle. more than a million, like the number anticipated for pope francis. but the cops who were there then, and now, say back then things were different. >> a lot of people, lot of people, all wanted to get a glimpse of the pope. >> reporter: a beat cop when the crowds swelled into the streets when the pope visit

. >> terry ruggles covered the papal visit in 1979. >> terry came out of retirement to help us look atat visit and compare it to what's happening this weekend. >> and there are some interesting comparisons. yes, indeed. because 36 years ago when pope john paul flew into philadelphia, that was actually his first stop here in the delaware valley. ironically when pope francis leaves, he will leave through philadelphia international airport. so we've got paul coming in, francis leaving. and in both cases students from the high school in delaware county have been and are very involved. ♪ >> reporter: the o'hara band has been practicing for months. that's senior caroline dimico conducting. the student conductor and drum major showed me part of what she'll wear when the band says good-bye to pope francis at the airport. >> i'm so excited. it's such an honor and it's something that's really one of a kind. >> reporter: one of a kind in 2015, but in 1979, scott sanford was the drum major when o'hara's band welcomed pope john paul ii's visit. sanford says it was a once in a life time opportunity.

terry ruggles talks to a man who knows the surprises that can happen when an unpredictable pontiff comesto town. >>> and a warmup for the first day of fall. tomorrow, followed by a chance of showers, some of it for your weekend. a look at that coming up. >>> and sitting down with the secret service. the staffing problems for the weekend and the biggest weakness for the security plans next on nbc 10 news at 6:00. >>> nbc 10 news starts now. >> right now at 6:00, the pope in america. president obama greeted the pontiff after his plane touched down from cuba. pope francis will bring a spotlight on the issues closest to his heart. immigration, social injustice, and economic inequality. >> and now the world meeting of families philadelphia 2015 is officially open! >> as the world meeting of families officially starts in philadelphia. and the city continues to make way for the pope's arrival in just three days. good evening, i'm jacqueline london. right now pope francis is inside the vatican diplomatic mission. he is not expected to appear again this evening. he touched down at joint base andr

former nbc 10 anchor and reporter terry ruggles was there when pope john paul visited in 1979. you were talking about a man who met john paul and plans to be on the parkway to see francis. it's come full circle. >> it does. it's a very creative thing that he did, because just about everybody who will crowd the routes that francis will be taking this weekend is hoping that francis stops and comes over to them. we are going to have to wait and see if that happens but 36 years ago a very well-known philadelphian had a krocreativey to meet the holy father. those are the murrays soaking up the son with me on the villanova campus. brian is on the right, his dad jim, the former general manager of the philadelphia eagles next to him. and john paul on the far left. that's right. i said john paul. he was born just a few months before john paul ii came to philadelphia. >> he said hey, let's name him after the pope. >> with a baby named john paul and the holy father coming to the parkway, murray knew he had to be there. like more than a million others, the murrays waited patiently for the

. >> you mentioned a french landscape artist, terry ruggles de, designed the parkway to emulate the shan saleh say in france. the idea was a slice of paris in philadelphia. to the ben franklin part, it is the sign of the museum district of philadelphia. it's stunning. it's gorgeous. for people who have never seen it, it has to be breathtaking. >> i was not going to say that, but i'm glad you brought it up. i was going to bring up something i read in "the new york times" which captured the dichotomy of what's going on. the writer said the pope has the splendor of the ancient church with the frenzy of a modern rock tour. you talk about two different clashes that seem to be blending together very, very well with what's going on. >> with so many people here from all over the world, the parkway lines the flags. that has that international feel. it is welcoming for everyone here. >> one of those seeing people trying to make their way to this point that you're looking at live is nbc 10's lauren down in front of one of those magnetometer areas. >> reporter: we're on market street at the 4th stre

. >> terry ruggles here to my right and father kevin gallagher from st.as we have heard so often. there's another plug for you. we appreciate so much the fact you have been here and have given us insight and given us some background into all that we have seen. >> so we have a full itinerary but really what stands out already this morning is that the pope went off script and before he started his statements to his -- his remarks to the bishops at the seminary, he talked about the sex abuse scandal and he said that this morning he had met with victims of clergy sex abuse. >> we got no forewarning of this at all. this was a surprise to us and i'm sure a surprise in newsrooms around the world. i'm sure this is the topic of the day in not only philadelphia but many countries. >> we have a statement from s.n. ample p., the survivors network of those abused by priests. in reads in part, is a child anywhere on earth safer now that a pope, for maybe the seventh or eighth time or ninth time, has briefly chatted with abuse victims? no. a smart public relations move.