Credit: Amanda Kuehnle/LevittownNow.com
It’s a luxurious red rug with gold trim and it weighs over 300 pounds. It’s a kind of delicacy for the leader of the Catholic Church you don’t expect to be made in an industrial factory over a hundred years old, in a borough of less than 2,500 neighbors. But it was delivered today to welcome Pope Francis officially to Philadelphia this weekend.
Dozens of officials and Penndel neighbors joined weavers at the Langhorne Carpet Factory in Penndel on Thursday morning to officially wrap and send off the carpet that will greet the Pope at the Philadelphia International Airport. Two others were made and sent last week for the rectory at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
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The carpet, which is made of 100 percent wool, and traveled by police escort on a Hybrid Electric Vehicle by the United Parcel Service (UPS) was done so to stay in line with the Pope’s strong environmental commitments, according to officials at the Langhorne Carpet Factory.
“The Langhorne Carpet Company is recognized around the world as being one of the few remaining carpet companies that still makes Wilton woven custom wool carpets,” Penndel Mayor Bob Winkler told the crowd. “To be chosen to make carpets for this historic occasion of the papal visit to Philadelphia is quite an honor.”
The rug, which was blessed by Reverend Robert Gross of Our Lady of Grace in the borough, was wrapped up by those at the carpet company, before being loaded onto a truck and being escorted to the aviation center by Penndel Chief of Police Joseph Sciscio.
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“I’m overjoyed something of this magnitude came out of our humble little borough, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” said Penndel Council President Kali Sodano.
The carpet made for the Pope’s visit is locked and loaded at the Langhorne Carpet Company. pic.twitter.com/fjtT40zeQB
— Amanda Kuehnle (@amandaMkuehnle) September 24, 2015
Chief Joe Sciscio will be escorting the UPS driver on his route to the Aviation center. pic.twitter.com/ZpMfFI7cPJ
— Amanda Kuehnle (@amandaMkuehnle) September 24, 2015
