Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the Big Apple will pose security challenges for the NYPD, but the city’s top cop has a saving grace — aspirin.
“I’m loading up on the Excedrin already,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton deadpanned about the difficult task of shepherding the world’s most influential Catholic safely through the city streets.
“He’s (Francis) made it quite clear in his travels around the world that he wants to interact with the public in a way in which we’re not used to having public figures deal with the public, and that’s going to be a challenge for us,” Bratton said at press conference at the Barclays Center.
The so-called people’s pontiff will set foot in the five boroughs for the first time on Sept. 24 for a three-day visit in which he’ll make appearances at the United Nations and the 9/11 Memorial. He’ll also host a Mass at Madison Square Garden and prayers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
While the feds will take the lead on the evolving security plan, the NYPD will offer the bulk of resources and support, Bratton said. “It’s really changing day to day in terms of what we’d like to do,” he said.
