Next week, Pope Francis will be visiting the United States in three specific East Coast cities: New York City, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. If you live or are visiting these cities at that time, and are hoping to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis, this is his schedule for his American tour.
Tuesday, September 22nd
According to USA Today, Pope Francis arrives at Joint Base Andrews to meet President Obama at 4 PM. Nothing else is really planned to happen on that day, but the rest of Pope Francis schedule is pretty regimented.
Wednesday, September 23rd
The Pope then meets with the President again as he welcomes Pope Francis to the White House at 9:15 AM . Pope Francis will then lead a prayer at St. Matthew's Cathedral with U.S. bishops at 11:30 AM that day.
Pope Francis will then make history at 4:15 PM as he will hold the first ever canonization mass on U.S. soil. This is a canonization Mass in Spanish for 25,000 ticket holders at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Thursday, September 24
At 10 AM, the Senate and the House will welcome Pope Francis in a joint session. He will make the first-ever address to Congress, which will broadcast live on the Capitols' West Front.
Assuming everything goes according to schedule, Pope Francis will make a stop on the Capitol's West Front that overlooks the National Mall at about 11 AM. At 11:15 AM, Pope Francis makes a stop at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese host the Pope's visit there.
At 4 PM, Pope Francis departs from Washington D.C. from Joint Base Andrews, heading for New York. He is scheduled to arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 5 PM, then hold an evening prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral at 6:45 PM .
Friday, September 25
At 8:30 AM, Pope Francis meets with the United Nations General Assembly, and it is the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. Pope Francis will then attend a multireligious service held at the 9/11 Memorial Museum at 11:30 AM.
By 4 PM, Pope Francis will visit Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem, followed by a 5 PM procession through Central Park. Mass will be held in Madison Square Garden at 6 PM.
Saturday, September 26
Pope Francis will depart New York for Philadelphia via JFK airport at 8:40 AM. After a 9:30 AM visit to Atlantic Aviation, Pope Francis will then have Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at 10:30 AM. At 4:45 PM, Pope Francis will visit Independence Mall.
At 7:30 PM, Pope Francis will stop by the Festival of Families on Benjamin Franklin Parkway to hold a prayer vigil with the World Meeting of Families, which is the largest meeting of Catholic families held every three years. Mark Wahlberg will host the event that includes special guest like Aretha Franklin, Juanes, Andrea Bocelli, The Fray, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and comedian Jim Gaffigan.
Sunday, September 27th
Pope Francis will hold a papal meeting with bishops at St. Martin's Chapel of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, outside of Philadelphia at 9:15 AM. He will then visit Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility at 11 AM.
At 4 PM, Mass is held at the World Meeting of Familes, followed by a visit back at Atlantic Aviation where he will talk to all the organizers and volunteers of the World Meeting of Families at 7 PM.
Pope Francis will end his 2015 American tour as he is scheduled to depart for Rome at 8 PM.
