These lines to see Pope Francis in NYC stretch up to a mile

 By 
Brian Ries
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Are you going to see Pope Francis in New York City this afternoon? We sure hope you like lines! Because boy, are they long.

New Yorkers began lining up early on Friday with hopes of securing a spot to see Pope Francis on his afternoon ride through Central Park. Another group started growing outside Madison Square Garden a bit later for his early evening mass at the famous arena -- that line reportedly stretches through Chelsea, nearly a mile down the street.

People in both groups, and New Yorkers looking down on them in buildings high above, have shared Instagram and Twitter photos that show just how long those lines truly are.

The pope is probably used to this, but it's rare to get New Yorkers to wait around this long for anything.

Walking in the Pope line A photo posted by Danuta Czerski (@danutaczerski) on Sep 25, 2015 at 10:59am PDT


The madness started early #popeinnyc A photo posted by Jacqueline Bey (@jacquelinebey) on Sep 25, 2015 at 10:26am PDT


People are hopin' to see a #Pope in.... his #Popemobile A photo posted by JB Lite (@jbliteimages) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:34am PDT


Absolute madness in the city today for the #pope visit. That cab is going nowhere #earlydismissal #getmeoutofhere #peoplearecrazy A photo posted by @emilybeauclair on Sep 25, 2015 at 12:02pm PDT


THE HYPE IS REAL - Nothing but straight. #PopeFrancis aka Pontifex dropping his mixtape 6 PM at MSG. #popeinnyc #blessed A photo posted by Zooey (@zoo_e) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:22am PDT



The pope is in NYC. Get me out of here #popefrancis A video posted by Nicole Lamberty (@nic_e_g) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:26am PDT


This is the line of the faithful to get to the #security checkpoint to see #popefrancis go through #centralpark on the #popemobile. #NYC A photo posted by Kari Pricher (@karipricher) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:00am PDT


Holy Pope!! A photo posted by Alexis Thornton Piela (@lexryan23) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:02am PDT


People lining up for #popefrancis address at #msg in 6 hours!! Never seen anything like this in all my years in #nyc. #lockdown #unprecedented #papa A photo posted by Keisha Sutton-James (@ksuttonjames) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:01am PDT


The line for MSG: A Pope Panorama. #PopeinNYC pic.twitter.com/DCD0HGlx9m— Joe Caiati (@JoeCaiati) September 25, 2015


#popeinNYC A photo posted by Jessica Moskowitz (@jessmoskowitz) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:14am PDT


Pope line, 2 pm. People are lined up down 8th Avenue, across 23rd Street, and up 7th Avenue #nyc #papalvisit #chelsea A photo posted by Lana (@lanaadinne) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:02am PDT


View from our bedroom window of Pope Madness. In 20+ years on this block I have never seen anything like it. Ticket Holders line to get into Madison Square Garden for Pope Francis' 6:00 mass wraps ten blocks down 7th Ave and across 23rd St (yes 23rd!) to 8th Ave! #coolpope #worththewait #thisiscrazy A photo posted by Michael DeVellis (@michaeldevellis) on Sep 25, 2015 at 10:41am PDT


Is this the line for the Pope? #greenzone A photo posted by Christopher Vinger (@christophervinger) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:11am PDT


Someone sure is Pope-ular A photo posted by Tome C (@mr.tome) on Sep 25, 2015 at 11:11am PDT


The end of the line for the Pope's Mass at MSG in... Chelsea pic.twitter.com/AngDaADaby— Dana Mattioli (@DanaMattioli) September 25, 2015

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