World Meeting to pay Philadelphia $12M to cover pope costs

A contract shows the World Meeting of Families will reimburse Philadelphia for the $12 million it’s spending on preparations for Pope Francis’ visit.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Mayor Michael Nutter released the contract Monday.

The nonprofit has already paid $230,000 in fees to use locations like the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which will be closed for a papal Mass that hundreds of thousands are expected to attend. The contract shows the group must also pay a $2.5 million security deposit.

A breakdown of city expenses shows nearly $5 million for police and nearly $4 million for the fire department, including emergency medical services. The city’s Office of Emergency Management and Streets Department are each charging more than $800,000.