Mark Wahlberg will host and Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, The Fray and Marie Miller will perform at a papal event later this month in the City of Brotherly Love.
WPVI reported that the star-studded lineup to perform during Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Philadelphia was announced on Monday. Also set to take the stage is America’s Got Talent season five runner-up Jackie Evancho, comedian Jim Gaffigan, Juanes and The Philadelphia Orchestra to name a few.
The Pontiff is scheduled to arrive in Philly on Sept. 25 after making stops in New York and Washington D.C. The outdoor events are planned for the Sept. 26 and 27.
Some of the headliners seem like a no-brainer. As the Washington Times noted, the 44-year-old Wahlberg was raised Catholic and came back to the church and sought the help of a priest after a life of drugs and crime growing up in Boston. Franklin of course began her career as a Gospel singer, Gaffigan recently made fun of the Catholic religion on his TV show and Evancho is a devout Catholic and Pennsylvania native.
More than one million people are expected to make the trip to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis.
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