Pope Francis Arrives in Rome, Ending Historic US Trip

— -- Pope Francis left Philadelphia Sunday and arrived in Rome, bringing his historic trip to the U.S. to a close.

The pope's airport send-off included appearances from Vice President Joe Biden, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, as well as a performance by a high school band.

After Francis boarded the American Airlines plane, he gave one last wave to the American people through the window.

In his final speech at the airport, Francis thanked all those who worked to prepare for his visit. He said he was leaving the U.S. with "a heart full of gratitude and hope."

Francis' plane took off after a packed day in the City of Brotherly Love. Sunday morning, he met with bishops, prisoners and victims of clerical sex abuse.

Francis later stopped by Saint Joseph's University, then held an outdoor Mass on Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway, concluding the World Meeting of Families Festival.

His trip to the U.S. began in Washington D.C., where he visited the White House and gave a speech to Congress. Francis then flew to New York, where he addressed the Untied Nations, visited the 9/11 Memorial and held Mass at Madison Square Garden.

In Philadelphia, Francis stood at Independence Hall, where he gave a passionate speech on religious freedom, immigration and tolerance.

Here is the text of Francis' final speech as translated by the Holy See:

Mr. Vice President, Distinguished Authorities, My Brother Bishops, Dear Friends,

My days with you have been brief. But they have been days of great grace for me and, I pray, for you too. Please know that as I prepare to leave, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and hope.

I am grateful to all of you and to the many others who worked so hard to make my visit possible and to prepare for the World Meeting of Families. In a particular way I thank Archbishop Chaput and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the civil authorities, the organizers, and all the many volunteers and benefactors who assisted in ways large and small.

I also thank the families who shared their witness during the Meeting. It is not so easy to speak openly of one’s life journey! But their honesty and humility before the Lord and each of us showed the beauty of family life in all its richness and diversity. I pray that our days of prayer and reflection on the importance of the family for a healthy society will inspire families to continue to strive for holiness and to see the Church as their constant companion, whatever the challenges they may face.

At the end of my visit, I would also like to thank all those who prepared for my stay in the Archdioceses of Washington and New York. It was particularly moving for me to canonize Saint Junípero Serra, who reminds us all of our call to be missionary disciples, and I was also very moved to stand with my brothers and sisters of other religions at Ground Zero, that place which speaks so powerfully of the mystery of evil. Yet we know with certainty that evil never has the last word, and that, in God’s merciful plan, love and peace triumph over all.

Mr. Vice-President, I ask you to renew my gratitude to President Obama and to the Members of Congress, together with the assurance of my prayers for the American people. This land has been blessed with tremendous gifts and opportunities. I pray that you may all be good and generous stewards of the human and material resources entrusted to you.

I thank the Lord that I was able to witness the faith of God’s people in this country, as manifested in our moments of prayer together and evidenced in so many works of charity. Jesus says in the Scriptures: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me”. Your care for me and your generous welcome are a sign of your love for Jesus and your faithfulness to him. So too is your care for the poor, the sick, the homeless and the immigrant, your defense of life at every stage, and your concern for family life. In all of this, you recognize that Jesus is in your midst and that your care for one another is care for Jesus himself.