Pope Francis shakes hands with Gov. Pennsylvania Tom Corbett, center, as Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, left, looks on Wednesday at the Vatican. Corbett was part of a Pennsylvania delegation formally inviting the pope to Philadelphia next year.

PHILADELPHIA — A delegation of Pennsylvanians has met with Pope Francis during a public audience in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

The group learned hours earlier that the pope would not be meeting with them privately Wednesday as they hoped.

Despite the unexplained change in plans, members of the group including Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said they were thrilled to meet the popular pontiff.

They greeted him individually and invited him to Philadelphia next year for the Vatican-sponsored Eighth World Meeting of Families. The event is expected bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city.

Nutter presented Pope Francis with a jersey from his high school alma mater, Saint Joseph’s Prep, which is run by Jesuits — the pope’s religious order.

U.S. officials have made their case to the Vatican for Pope Francis to visit the U.S. next year, saying his “message needs to be heard” during a massive church celebration of the family planned for Philadelphia.

Popes have attended five of the seven World Meetings of the Family, and Francis has made family issues the top priority of his pontificate. But no confirmation of his participation is expected before next year.