'Pope Bot' Offers Philadelphia Area A Shot At Redemption

Wandering across the ragged globe, relying upon the kindness of strangers, innocent metallic eyes looking out upon the vagaries of a cold world, Hitch Bot infamously met his bloody end in the city of brotherly love.

You may remember: he was the transcontinental android that “hitchhiked” across the length of Canada and made his way down into the United States, where his journey ultimately ended in tragedy.

Weeks later, a region that had reminded itself of its dark underbelly - from booing Santa Claus and pelting a left fielder with batteries, to “destroying” a kindly robot - solemnly prepared for a visit from one of the world’s most distinguished emissaries of morality and Christianity. Pope Francis will arrive in Philadelphia and Montgomery County on September 26.

Yet in the molten ashes of Hitchbot, in the anxious hours leading up to arrival of the leader of the Vatican, a different kind of entity was borne upon southeastern Pennsylvania.

His name is Pope Bot.

You can also call him the ”Papal Robot Hitchhiker,” as his creators at WMMR, a Philadelphia radio station, do:

Hello, I’m Pope Bot. Inspired by my friend, #HitchBot, who sadly met his demise in Philadelphia, I am taking a journey around the Delaware Valley. The goal of my adventure is to prove to the Vatican that this area is a safe environment for the leader of the church. Plus, there is a prize each week for one person who gives me a lift!

Check the hashtag #PopeBotPhilly and all my social media accounts to see where I am and where I have been.

The Papal Robot Hitchhiker is different from Hitch Bot. He’s not an actual android. He’s made of paper, plastic, and ribbons.

But that does not detract from the gravity of his mandate.

Pope Bot was being carted through several Montgomery and Chester County locations late on Monday afternoon, and was spotted at the Plymouth Meeting Mall at around 4:30 p.m.

He also paid his respects to Valley Forge in the afternoon, and posed for photos at the Exton Square Mall and at the Wegmans market locations in Malvern and Bryn Mawr earlier in the day.

The Papal Robot Hitchhiker is social media savvy, and has created accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Observers have said that Pope Bot represents a unique second opportunity for the people of Pennsylvania.

“Dear Phila: Please, please be kind to @PopeBotPhilly! This is our chance for a major do-over!” Donna Crilley Farrell commented on Twitter.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, Pope Bot was hoping to work his way towards Center City Philadelphia to 4th and Market Street, where he hopes appear on air with Mike and Alex on Fox 29 at 7 a.m., according to his Facebook page.

The Papal Robot is undoubtedly on a mission.

“Let’s show the rest of the country,” he wrote decisively on Twitter, “How kind (gentle & responsible) we can be.”

Photos courtesy Pope Bot’s Facebook page.