Pope Francis will visit the United States from September 22 to September 27. 2015.
What will Pope Francis do on his visit? His agenda is packed. He’ll visit Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia. During his visit, he’ll address a joint session of Congress and he will speak at the United Nations. He’ll visit a prison and a school. He’ll celebrate Mass–one in Madison Square Garden, and one outdoors in Philadelphia. (You can see his whole schedule here.)
How many people will see the pope? It’s impossible to say how many people will see the pope, but approximately 1 million people are expected to attend the mass in Philadelphia. In addition, 8,000 people have applied for media credentials, so there will be plenty of press coverage.
What about security? “The level of security is, I think, unprecedented,” said Helen Osman, spokesperson for the U.S. conference of Catholic Bishiops at a conference of the Religion Newswriters Association. The Secret Service and city police departments are involved. A fun fact: The pope travels with 2 Swiss guards on every trip, but you won’t be able to spot them in the colorful uniforms they wear at the Vatican. They’ll be wearing civilian clothes
When did a pope first visit the United States? In 1965, Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit the United States.
How is this visit different from other papal visits?
This pope is so popular that large crowds are expected wherever he goes. Pope Francis has a spontaneous side, and often stops to speak to people in the crowds. Another big difference is social media. Not only will those who see the pope be sharing updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more, this pope (like Pope Benedict before him) has a Twitter account. You can follow him at @Pontifex.
