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Pope Francis Visits NYC: Where He Will Be, and Where You Should Go Instead

Pope Francis will arrive in New York City on Thursday evening, marking the beginning of one of the biggest logistical SNAFU's the city has faced in decades. Never mind the United Nations General Assembly, which is convening this week on the East Side of Manhattan; it's the Pontiff's first United States visit that will reroute thousands of New Yorkers, as entire blocks are closed to traffic and some of the city's most visited landmarks are shut off to the general public. So where, exactly, should you avoid if you're looking to skirt the mass of humanity His Holiness will draw to New York City? Good question. We've mapped the street closures that will be in effect throughout the two-day Papal extravaganza , as well as attractions to visit in lieu of the destinations the Holy Father will himself be gracing.

His New York schedule (copied from here ) is below, along with maps of each of the main locations. Click on the maps and streets for more details.

Thursday, September 24

5:00 p.m.: Arrive at JFK Airport. Fun fact: journalists subsidize the Pope's travels , and he's flying American Airlines within the States (yes, he's flying between D.C., NYC, and Philly).

6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer (Vespers) at St. Patrick's Cathedral

Friday, September 25

8:30 a.m.: Visit to the United Nations and Address to the United Nations General Assembly

11:30 a.m.: Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center

4:00 p.m.: Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School, East Harlem

5 p.m.(ish): Pope Francis Central Park Procession. Ticketed guests will be allowed to enter starting at 11 a.m. All guests must be at their assigned gate no later than 3:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m. Mass at Madison Square Garden

Saturday, September 26

8:40 a.m. Departure JFK Airport

· The Papal Visit Is Causing a Security Nightmare on the UES [Curbed] · Curbed Maps archives [Curbed]

Brooklyn Museum

Many of Manhattan's most famous museums, including MoMA and the Met, will be all but impossible to get to while Pope Francis is in town. But the Brooklyn Museum won't be, and its current roster of exhibits—including one on sneaker culture, a Kara Walker installation, and a retrospective of the innovative Brooklyn artists FAILE—is well worth the trip.

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Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Thanks to the Papal procession on Friday (and the security leading up to it), Central Park will be a no-go this week. Instead, head to Queens and visit Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which is even larger than Central Park, and has just as many cool things to do: check out the iconic Unisphere, wander around the dilapidated New York State Pavilion, or check out institutions like the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Botanical Garden.

The best New York parks for barbecues and picnics

Outdoors and Online: 20 of New York City's Free Wi-Fi Spots

Queens Museum

While you're at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, be sure to take a detour to the Queens Museum. It's located in the former New York City Building, originally constructed for the 1939 World's Fair. At one point, the building was the headquarters of the United Nations (whose current complex will be a no-fly-zone because of the Pope); now, it hosts innovative, borough-focused exhibits. It's also home to The Panorama of the City of New York , a scale model of the five boroughs that's one of the most fascinating exhibits in the city. [Photo by Max Touhey]

26 best things to do in NYC right now

The 29 best things to do in New York City with kids

Prospect Park

Or you could visit Prospect Park, which has the added bonus of being another New York City park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the architects of Central Park. Head to the Vale of Cashmere, one of the quietest spots within the park , if you need a place for peaceful reflection. [Photo by Monica Berger]

Prospect Park: secrets of Brooklyn’s beloved park

The Green-Wood Cemetery

It's no surprise that the recently-restored St. Patrick's Cathedral will be overtaken by Papal activity—and other popular houses of worship, like Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel, are also in Pope Francis's sphere of closures. If you're looking for a peaceful spot with religious (and historical) significance, go to Green-Wood: There are plenty of spots to explore, including the beautiful 1911 chapel; the grounds are serene; and there are more historical sites than you can count on both hands.

Governors Island

This is the final weekend that Governors Island will be open to the public, so make the most of it. On Thursday, there's a hard hat tour of the new hills being built, which will tower 70 feet over the island. Pro tip: Leave from the ferry landing at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park—thanks to the Pope's visit to the World Trade Center, downtown is going to be a mess.

See Where New York City Parks Are Being Beautified & Built

Rockaway Beach

Want to get as far away from the congestion of the Pope's visit as possible? Head to the Rockaways; swimming may be off-limits at this point, but there are still plenty of activities—tacos, shopping, people-watching—to keep you occupied. There's also a small park that pays tribute to Rockaways residents lost on 9/11, located near the Beach 116th Street subway stop. [Photo by Scott Lynch]

New York Botanical Garden

The leaves may not be turning just yet at the New York Botanical Garden, but that doesn't mean it won't be a beautiful place to visit this time of year. Plus, there are only a few weeks left to check out its blockbuster Frida Kahlo exhibition, which is a good alternative if you can't get to the Museum of Modern Art this week. [Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen]

Mapping the Most Exciting New Developments Transforming The Bronx

Kings Theatre

Both Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall are within the area that will basically be off-limits during the Pope's visit—and thousands of spectators will pack MSG on Friday for a papal mass. But the historic Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, which reopened this February, is well outside of the Pope's purview and is just as historic as either of those Manhattan venues. If you're an Of Monsters and Men or Jackson Browne fan, you're in luck: they're playing on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

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Pope Francis Itinerary & Schedule in DC, New York, and Philadelphia

Washington, dc     sept. 22–24.

Arrival from Cuba

His arrival at Andrews Air Force Base marks the first time the pope will set foot on U.S. soil. He will be greeted by President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill.

Welcoming ceremony

Pope Francis will appear at an official welcoming ceremony on the White House South Lawn. He will meet with President Obama following the South Lawn appearance.

Vatican Pool/Getty Images

Papal parade

After leaving the White House, Pope Francis will travel in the "popemobile" along 15th Street, Constitution Avenue and 17th Street, NW. The parade will be free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Gates will be opening for the Ellipse and the National Mall at 4:00 a.m.

Meeting with U.S. bishops

His Holiness will lead a midday prayer from the Liturgy of Hours, alongside Bishops from the United States at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.

Holy Mass and canonization of Junipero Serra

Approximately 25,000 people are expected to attend this mass and it will serve as a canonization for Franciscan missionary Junipero Serra, a Spanish-born Franciscan Friar known for starting nine Spanish missions in California in the 1700s.

George Rose/Getty Images

U.S. Capitol

Pope Francis will address a joint meeting of Congress, making him the first pope in history to do so. Video screens will be set up on the West Front of the Capitol toward the National Mall so thousands can watch the speech from outside.

Visit to the Charitable Center of St. Patrick Parish and meeting with the homeless

The pontiff will make a brief visit to the oldest Catholic church in the nation’s capital. Following the visit to St. Patrick's Parish, Pope Francis will give a blessing to clients of the St. Maria Meals program of the Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Washington. The pope is expected to enjoy a meal of chicken, green beans, carrots and pasta salad with the charity’s homeless clients.

Departure for New York

Pope Francis heads to the Empire State from the same base where he landed on Tuesday.

New York     Sept. 24–26

Arrival in New York

An hour later, Pope Francis arrives at JFK airport in New York City. The Diocese of Brooklyn picked five Catholic school students who will greet Pope Francis when he touches down.

Evening prayer (Vespers)

The pope will lead the evening prayer at a Vespers service held in the St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The event is only open to clergy of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, but a live stream will be available. Pope Francis will be the fourth pontiff to have visited the renowned cathedral. The young students will give the pontiff a bouquet filled with a list of prayers and good works from Catholic school students from Brooklyn and Queens.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Address to the United Nations

The United Nations is used to having high-profile attendees but Pope Francis will be breaking the mold on Friday. He is expected to address the General Assembly on strategies to combat poverty and protect the environment. His visit coincides with the UN's 70th anniversary.

Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial

The pontiff will visit the 9/11 Memorial site in lower Manhattan. He will then meet with local representatives of the world religions inside the museum's Foundation Hall, as part of a multi-religious meeting for peace.

Justin Lane-Pool/Getty Images

Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School

Pope Francis will then visit a third grade class at Our Lady Queen of Angels, an elementary school in East Harlem.

Papal procession

A trip to “The Big Apple” wouldn’t be complete without a stroll through Central Park, so Pope Francis will motorcade between 72nd and 60th streets. More than 93,000 people entered a lottery for a free pair of tickets to the processional, and 80,000 tickets were given out.

The pope will hold Mass in the same famous arena that houses playoff games and sold-out concerts. Madison Square Garden can hold up to 20,000 people.

Departure for Philadelphia

Pope will travel by closed car to a downtown heliport, to catch a helicopter to JFK.

Philadelphia     Sept. 26–27

Arrival in Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s Archbishop Charles Chaput, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and the mayor of Philly Michael Nutter will roll out the red carpet for the Catholic leader. Pope Francis will be the second pope to visit the city.

This Mass is closed to the public and tickets have been limited to 1,600 people. The cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the largest Catholic church in the state.

John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Visit to Independence Mall

Standing in front of America’s birthplace, the pope will give a speech about immigration and religious freedom. Following his speech, Francis plans on touring Independence Hall, which is expected to include a stop at the Liberty Bell.

Festival of families

The Festival of Families is the closing ceremony for the World Meetings of Families conference. Actor Mark Wahlberg will be hosting the outdoor ceremony and performers include Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, and the Fray. The pope will watch the celebration, hear from six families from different continents and give a speech.

St. Charles is where Pope Francis will sleep while he’s in Philly. The seminary prepares men for the priesthood and the diaconate.

Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility

Pope Francis will visit the city’s largest jail, where most of the inmates are serving a maximum of two years or awaiting trial. The pope will give a speech in the gymnasium and after he’ll individually greet some of the 100 prisoners.

Holy Mass concluding the World Meeting of Families

Before the pope gives the Holy Mass, he’ll ride down the mile-long street in his “popemobile.” This open-air Mass is the main event and is expected to attract over a million people.

Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Visit with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families

Approximately 500 people will bid Pope Francis farewell as he heads back to the Vatican. Vice President Biden and his family will lead the ceremony before His Holiness boards his return flight.

Departure for Rome

Arrivederci Pope Francis! The pope will hold an on-board press conference before taking off. His plane is slated to touch down on Monday.

Pope Francis visit: Pontiff leaves New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral as his long day ends

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Pope Francis' New York itinerary started with a ride down Fifth Avenue and evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Then he left in a small Fiat to spend the night at the Vatican's diplomatic residence. The second leg of his three-city American visit came after he addressed a joint meeting of Congress. The pope implored officials gathered in the House chamber to welcome immigrants, abolish the death penalty and protect families “threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without."

--  Pope weighs in on  political controversies

-- Which four people did the pope say Americans should honor? 

Waving goodnight to pope

Into the fiat, pope leaves evening prayers, fifth avenue greeting.

New York, the city that never sleeps, got a new reason to stay awake as Pope Francis arrived in Manhattan for a whirlwind tour that will take him from the heights of international authority at the United Nations to the World Trade Center and a school in East Harlem.

Fresh from a speech to a joint meeting of Congress, where he pushed his agenda of helping immigrants and the poor while healing the planet from the effects of climate change, Francis arrived for evening prayers at the legendary St. Patrick's Cathedral on Manhattan's storied, high-end shopping district along Fifth Avenue.

Thousands of people lined up along police barricades for a glimpse of the pontiff. Some wore Francis T-shirts, others waved Vatican flags. All praised the pope who had traveled more than 4,200 miles from the Holy See to share his message of compassion and tolerance.

"He's a very meaningful person because of his character and the way he loves people," said Grace Cordoza, 75, of Hyde Park, N.Y. "It always touched me."

Her friend, Gail Giacobbe, 67, of Basking Ridge, N,J., said she admired the example he sets for others.

"We want to emulate not only what he says but how he lives his life," Giacobbe said.

Non-Catholics joined the expectant crowd. Janie and Michael Huddleton, siblings from Birmingham, Ala., described themselves as a non-denominational Christian and an atheist, respectively.

"I wanted to be part of what New Yorkers experience," said Janie Huddleton, 27. "Nothing like this ever happens in Birmingham."

--Tina Susman and Vera Haller

From Birmingham to New York

Along Fifth Avenue, just south of St. Patrick's Cathedral, an audible sigh of disappointment swept through the crowd waiting for a glimpse of Pope Francis.

Word had spread that the pope had entered St. Patrick's for evening prayers without passing the thousands of spectators who had been waiting for hours, lined up five or six deep. Others peered out of upper floors of office buildings and stores lining the avenue.

But the sighting wasn't to happen. "I'm a little disappointed, but I had to be here," said Madeline Russo, 86, of Manhattan. "He is a beautiful leader who can take us out of this turmoil."

John Sterling, 40, an occupational therapist from Queens, said he thought security concerns might be higher in New York than in other cities, which was why the pope went right into the cathedral.

"I'm OK because I'm taking my mom to Philadelphia," the next leg of the pope's U.S. visit, said Sterling, a Roman Catholic. "I think this pope is a little more liberal and not afraid to voice his opinions on real issues."

Non-Catholics were among the crowd too. Janie and Michael Huddleton, siblings from Birmingham, Ala., described themselves as nondenominational Christian and atheist, respectively.

They came to try to see the pope as part of their New York experience while in town for a family wedding.

"I wanted to be part of what New Yorkers experience," said Janie, 27. "Nothing like this ever happens in Birmingham."

'Popemobile' in New York

Pope fan in new york, pope parade, a glance inside st. patrick's cathedral.

New York Police officers patrol Fifth Avenue in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in preparation for Pope Francis’ arrival to lead an evening prayer service. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Pope Francis will soon arrive for evening prayers at New York's cathedral.

Here are some facts about the landmark site.

The Architecture

Neo-Gothic. The cathedral's two ornately carved spires grace Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Inside, the sanctuary is marked by soaring arches and intricate stained-glass windows. It is undergoing a major restoration; a cleaning of its marble exterior, now a gleaming white, was completed in December.

May 25, 1879

At its transept, the cathedral measures 174 feet across and 332 feet long. The spires are 330 feet tall.

Noteworthy events

Among the many notable funerals held at the cathedral were Babe Ruth's on Aug. 19, 1948, Robert F. Kennedy's on June 8, 1968, and Andy Warhol's on April 1, 1987.

Past papal visits

Pope Paul VI in October 1965, Pope John Paul II in October 1979 and October 1995, Pope Benedict XVI in April 2008.

--Vera Haller

See how New York photogs are ready for Pope Francis

Pope's new york whirlwind begins.

Parishioners wait patiently for Pope Francis to arrive at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, New York. EPA/Robert Sabo / POOL

Pope Francis arrived in New York City to begin a whirlwind visit of 39 hours and 40 minutes that will take him from the U.N. headquarters to a school in East Harlem.

The pope's chartered American Airlines 777 landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport where he was greeted by Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and five Roman Catholic schoolchildren.

He was whisked by helicopter to Manhattan, where he will attend evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the seat of the head of the New York Archdiocese.

"It is a tremendous honor to welcome Pope Francis to New York state," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "Both in his teachings and in his travels around the globe, Pope Francis has inspired countless people to live with kindness for one another, and to reach out for and help those in need. These are ideals that are also deeply entwined in the spirit of New York, and I am honored that the Holy Father is including our state in his first visit to the United States.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I am proud to receive him with open arms, and I hope that his visit will be peaceful and rewarding."

--Michael Muskal

The pope's visit to NYC by the numbers

Pope Francis will be in New York City for about 39 hours, time enough to turn the city upside down. The New York Police Department has gathered the following numbers associated with the papal visit.

The number of barriers the NYPD will use. About 14,000 are owned by the department. They total 196,000 feet, or about 37 miles.

The number of traffic cones the police department will use.

The pieces of concrete block to be used citywide. They weigh 3,900 pounds each, totaling 818 tons.

The number of different motorcades in the city between the pope and dignitaries attending the United Nations General Assembly.

The number of miles Pope Francis will travel while he is in New York.

The number of barrier trucks the police department will use over the course of the pope's visit.

--Tina Susman

Maybe the pope could just pop in?

In the part of Queens known as "Little Argentina," people tried in vain to win their neighborhood a place on Pope Francis' schedule.

After all, they said, it's so close to Kennedy Airport, couldn't he maybe just stop by on the way in to the city?

They didn't make it into the official plans, but on Thursday, they were still hoping. Maybe Francis, born in Argentina, would pop in for a quick taste of home.

—Vera Haller

In a section of Queens known as “Little Argentina,” shop owners hoped for a surprise visit from the Argentine pope when he arrived in New York.

Who is she? Why did the pope praise her?

In this circa 1960 file photo, Dorothy Day is seen. In his speech to Congress, Pope Francis highlighted the contributions of Americans he said helped shape fundamental values that will “endure forever in the spirit of the American people.’’ Day, long a revered figure among Catholic progressives, founded the Catholic Worker Movement in the 1930s as she sought to help the poor and homeless. A pacifist, Day was arrested many times as she fought to bring attention to the plight of the poor and working class.

In his historic address to Congress on Thursday, Pope Francis invoked the name of this woman and three other Americans who, through "hard work and sacrifice" were able to build "a better future" and shape fundamental American values.

They are: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and Thomas Merton.

Pictured above is the fourth, Dorothy Day.

-- Sarah Parvini

NYC eagerly awaits the pope

Pope is wheels up to new york.

After reaching out to a sea of children, Pope Francis left the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington D.C., for Joint Base Andrews, where he departed on an American Airlines 777 for New York City, the second stop on his historic U.S. visit.

A crowd of well-wishers cheered as he departed.

Earlier, Francis worked the crowd of children outside the Vatican's top diplomatic mission in the nation's capital. Cellphone cameras snapped papal selfies as he moved along the line.

He is scheduled to arrive in New York around 5 p.m. and will attend a prayer service this evening at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Pope Francis greets school children as he departs the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in the heart of Washington, en route Andrews Air Force Base. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Pope pilgrims flock to Philly shrines

Pope Francis arrives in Philadelphia on Saturday. While the faithful wait for him, some of the many who have come to see him are making the rounds of the area's national shrines.

St. Rita of Cascia in South Philadelphia made it easy for visitors, offering free trolley rides from the downtown area, called Center City.

Visitors came to the shrine Thursday from Virginia, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Europe and Zimbabwe.

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske

Papal security: No free passes

House chaplain got his blessed moment, new york awaits francis, pope reaches out to d.c. homeless.

Felton Pierce, left, and Eric Dyer, who are both homeless, talk ahead of a visit by Pope Francis to a lunch for the homeless who are served by Catholic Charities in Washington. (Brian Snyder/Pool Photo via AP)

Pope Francis traveled to the other side of the tracks in Washington, D.C. and spoke to the homeless, telling them that Jesus, too, was born without a place to live.

"The Son of God knew what it was to start life without a roof over his head," Pope Francis said to about 400 people at St. Patrick Church, including the homeless and hungry who were eating a meal. The pope blessed the food.

Homelessness has again become a key national issue. Los Angeles recently declared an emergency to strengthen the fight in dealing with the issue. In New York City, where the pope heads next, officials have long worked to shelter those who cannot afford housing.

As he has with other concerns, Pope Francis linked a tradition of the church to a modern flaw.

"We can imagine what Joseph must have been thinking," Francis told the crowd, describing the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

"How is it that the Son of God has no home? Why are we homeless, why don't we have housing? These are questions which many of you may ask daily."

L.A. Archbishop: 'The immigrant spirit is a wellspring'

Yesterday was a glorious day in our nation's capitol. Wonderful to pray with Pope Francis and to hear him speaking in English and in Spanish!

He began his pilgrimage by identifying with America's immigrant experience. He said: "As the son of an immigrant family, I am happy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families."

A wonderful tribute to the immigrant spirit! As an immigrant's son, his father fled fascism in Italy to settle in Argentina. Francis understands that the immigrant spirit is a wellspring for economic and moral revitalization.

At the end of the day, he canonized St. Junípero Serra, a missionary and immigrant who became the founding father of California. A beautiful day for the Latino people. Our first Latino saint!

I had the privilege to be on the altar with Pope Francis and to celebrate the canonization Mass with him.

I was praying for all the people of Los Angeles, of every religion and race and culture and language. I was asking our new saint to intercede for all of us, to ask God to open our hearts to the beauty of his plan for creation so that we can be more loving, more compassionate, more merciful and forgiving.

--Archbishop José H. Gomez

3 powerful quotes from the pope's speech to Congress

Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress, making history as the first pontiff to do so.

"A political society endures when it seeks, as a vocation, to satisfy common needs by stimulating the growth of all its members, especially those in situations of greater vulnerability or risk."

Immigration

"On this continent, too, thousands of persons are led to travel north in search of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones, in search of greater opportunities. Is this not what we want for our own children? We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation."

Death penalty

"Recently my brother bishops here in the United States renewed their call for the abolition of the death penalty. Not only do I support them, but I also offer encouragement to all those who are convinced that a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation."

See how the pope made grown men cry

Pope mingles with catholic charity workers.

Pope Francis greets Catholic Charities workers and the homeless people they serve at a lunch in Washington.

Pope comforts the homeless

After challenging Washington's elites in a joint meeting of Congress, Francis offered comfort to some of the city's neediest.

He spoke to homeless people at St. Patrick Parish and pressed into a crowd at Catholic Charities, where people surrounded him and took selfies after he offered a blessing before their lunch.

He called on the faithful to solve the problem of homelessness, declaring: "Let me be clear: There can be no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing."

Late in the day he was leaving for New York for more prayer services and a speech to the United Nations.

--Associated Press

FBI gets a papal wave

Can there be goodness in congress.

Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Sept. 24.

Intending to bring words of encouragement to a divided Congress, Pope Francis made a spirited case Thursday for the goodness of politics, drawing on church teachings and landmark moments in U.S. history to nudge lawmakers toward a more inspired professional pursuit.

The pope used his moral authority to weigh in on a variety of U.S. political controversies, including immigration, income inequality, the death penalty and the environment.

Francis said his speech was for the entire nation, especially common workers and the elderly, and he urged legislators not to ignore the dispossessed.

"A political society endures when it seeks, as a vocation, to satisfy common needs by stimulating the growth of all its members, especially those in situations of greater vulnerability or risk," he said.

The pope challenged Congress to act with compassion in dealing with migrants from south of the border.

-- Michael A. Memoli

-- Lisa Mascaro

Protocol busters tweet from House floor

Several members of Congress, including Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), were tweeting photos from the House floor this morning in violation of protocol. Lawmakers are forbidden from doing this except during the brief period of time a new Congress is sworn in every two years.

-- Christina Bellantoni

Congress' religious affiliations

More than 9 in 10 members of the House and Senate are Christian and about 57% are Protestant, which is about the same as in the 113th Congress, according to the Pew Research Center. About one-third of members are Catholic, the same as in the previous Congress.

'A good political leader...seizes the moment in a spirit of openness and pragmatism'

What makes a good political leader, work toward 'common good,' pope francis tells congress.

The address before a joint meeting of Congress was a historic first for a leader of the Catholic Church, and the soft-spoken pontiff arrived at a House chamber where the partisan split was on full display, with Vice President Joe Biden to his one side and House Speaker John A. Boehner on the other.

Francis sought to balance his views for a politically divided audience, discussing the importance of life and family in a way that appealed to Republicans, while leaning more heavily into the issues of immigration, climate change and income inequality that have made him popular with Democrats. He called for an end to the death penalty.

He invoked historical lessons from American icons Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, appealing to a sense of American exceptionalism that resonated with lawmakers.

"You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics," the pope said, speaking in English from prepared notes.

A small outburst

And in philly..., renew spirit of cooperation, francis says, meanwhile, in new york..., these tailgaters are nuns, defend and care for your people, pope tells congress, in congress, the powerful get the pope tickets.

Members of Congress have been scrambling to see the pope in the Fiat who humbly visits the poor, but it's the bigwigs who are getting tickets.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's guest list includes billionaires, members of political dynasties, and a man who has given tens of millions to Democratic causes: Matilda Cuomo, widow of Mario Cuomo; Thomas D'Alesandro III, former mayor of Baltimore; wealthy entrepreneurs Marc and Lynne Benioff of San Francisco; Tom Steyer, the environmentalist political donor and his wife, Kat Taylor.

Pelosi's husband and the head of the Service Employees International Union are also on her list.

Others in the audience include former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista, and John Calipari, the University of Kentucky basketball coach.

But don't worry, there's still a place for the little people: on the lawn. Pelosi's office said some constituents, local college students, nuns, and immigration advocates who fasted have seats on the West Front of the Capitol, where Francis is expected to appear following his remarks.

-- Noah Bierman

Eager for the best view

The thousands of people gathered here on the Capitol's West Lawn lined up during the small hours of the morning to ensure the best glimpse of the pope when he walks out to greet them from the Speaker of the House's balcony.

Many with red and blue "standing room only" tickets plopped their blankets on the ground to catch up on sleep, weaving into one another for warmth.

Spectators draped their arms over the fence and peered at the Jumbotron, hoping to catch a first look at Pope Francis.

"I came today because the pope's message of justice and peace resonates with me as well as his Jesuit values -- competence, conscience, and compassion," said José Cabrales, 37, of Watsonville, Calif.

--Mary Ann Toman-Miller

Live: Pope addresses Congress

A reflection on Francis' emphasis on the family

Students, chaperone Tika Lee and Daniel Annarelli look at photos from Annarelli’s participation in a Kairos retreat during his time at St. Joseph Preparatory in Philadelphia.

Family. It is the culminating theme of the holy father's visit to the United States when he makes his planned visit to Philadelphia this weekend, wrapping up the celebration of the Catholic World Meeting of Families.

It is this theme of family that is the tinder for excitement and anticipation in this country that has not been seen since the hope-filled message of a newly elected president in 2008.

How fitting it is that the theme of family is what gets so many people coming together from around the world with a newfound zeal. After all, what gets people more impassioned than their families? What elicits from us a greater joy than the hug of a loved one or a greater sense of gratitude than seeing a parent or child after a long time apart?

What, too, delivers such disappointment and pain than those moments where family fails us? And yet, we keep coming back to family. We all have a sense of family, whatever our history or background. Because in the end, nothing reveals the depth of our humanity more than our families.

Today, and throughout the weekend, we have the privilege to celebrate what family means to us. We dialogue about our different family values, share our family traditions, and debate the pros and cons of family life.

We kicked off this celebration with 20 people from different families converging on one home -- that of my childhood family. It was a particularly special night for me, because I was able to give my mom and dad that hug after being apart for a long time. And simultaneously I was able to give my students -- those from my Loyola family -- a glimpse of what family means to me. We ate a home cooked meal, we laughed, we sang songs, we looked at old pictures and even poked some fun at the Dean's high school scrapbook.

From one family opening its door and its heart to others, we've started a conversation that will continue throughout the weekend -- one where, hopefully, we can all get a window into each other's families and share in the joyful spirit of what it means to simply belong.

--Daniel Annarelli

Crazy for pope bobbleheads

Samir Sabir, at City Souvenirs in Manhattan, opens a fresh supply of bobblehead Pope Francis dolls, which are scarce in New York City.

It was a simple request. Someone wanted a Pope Francis doll.

You know the ones.

The bobblehead dolls that show the smiling pontiff, his right hand waving to adoring crowds and his head bobbing gently.

They're everywhere, right?

Pope Francis has arrived

A papal playlist.

Streaming service Spotify is promoting a special playlist for Pope Francis' visit, with songs ranging from "Ave Maria" to Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind."

The company reached out to Tim O'Malley, director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, for his papal playlist. There are 53 songs on the list, or about three-and-a-half hours of music.

Some of the songs are hymns and psalms, but there are also references to the places Francis is visiting: Washington, Philadelphia and New York.

Among the tunes? Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York," "Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen and "Motown Philly" by Boyz II Men.

Joint session or joint meeting?

Here's why the Pope is addressing a joint meeting of Congress.

Each chamber of the Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives, meets separately to do their work. But on rare and important occasions, the houses come together in either a joint session or joint meeting. The difference between the two is technical and involves parliamentary rules of order.

However, the distinction is important.

When a foreign leader visits, the House and the Senate agree to recess and meet with the other chamber. Lawmakers listen, but do no more than clap in a joint meeting.

In a joint session, however, the bodies adopt a concurrent resolution, a much more formal position. Joint sessions are typically reserved to hear an address from the President of the United States or to count presidential electoral votes as specified by the U.S. Constitution.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives usually presides over both joint sessions and meetings. The president of the Senate presides over joint sessions where the electoral votes are counted.

Pope's day two schedule

6:20 a.m. Addresses joint meeting of Congress

Pope Francis will become the first pontiff to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, but the visit will not be without controversy. Many conservative Republicans see the Pope as too liberal, especially on issues such as climate change.

8:15 a.m. Visits St. Patrick's Church and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington

Pope Francis will visit St. Patrick's Church in Washington D.C. and give a blessing to the clients and homeless gathered at lunchtime for the St. Maria Meals Program of the Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Washington.

1 p.m. Departs Joint Base Andrews for New York

2 p.m. Arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport

3:45 p.m. Evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral

Pope Francis will pray with priests, men and women religious and such dignitaries as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio. St. Patrick's, in Midtown Manhattan, is the landmark seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.

--Source: Catholic Conference of Bishops

Walkers only to D.C. pope viewing

Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington is closed to vehicles, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, as people walk to get through security to see Pope Francis appear from the Speaker’s Balcony on Capitol Hill. The Pope will addresses a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

A warm embrace, and then to the Fiat

Waiting for francis to address congress.

Thousands of people are filling the Capitol lawn in anticipation of Pope Francis' historic address to a joint meeting of Congress.

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How to See the Pope in New York City

By Laura Dannen Redman

On his inaugural trip to the United States, Pope Francis has already become something of a rock star—with security measures in place in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia known just to the likes of President Obama, and throngs of admirers that would make Beyoncé or the Boss blush. A lucky few will get to meet His Holiness personally—even New York clergy have trouble getting access. (Though if you do come face to face with Pope Francis, don't call him Your Excellency or Your Eminence. Just Your Holiness. As for talking points, he enjoys Bach, Fellini, and helping the poor, not necessarily in that order. Study up with NPR's excellent primer on the pontiff. )

The question remains: Do you have a shot at seeing the pope in NYC? Here's what we know, along with a few other FAQs.

When does the pope arrive in New York?

His NYC visit kicks off tonight. He lands at JFK around 5 p.m., where he'll be met by Mayor Bill de Blasio, and will lead a Vespers service (a.k.a. evening prayer) at St. Patrick's Cathedral at 6:45 p.m., after a procession down Fifth Avenue. About 500 people will be waiting for him on the stairs, and another 2,500 inside, including a lot of priests.

Can I see him on Fifth Avenue?

Reporter Bill Sweeney, who's covering the pontiff for The Washington Post this week, just came from the St. Patrick's area—he says the street is closed down in front of the cathedral, but the surrounding area looked pretty open as of now. Saks Fifth Avenue next door has an eighth-floor cafe, Cafe SFA , with a balcony that overlooks everything—but it closes at 4 p.m. Boo. The folks at nearby Bill's Bar and Burgers say they're already prepared for more foot traffic.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Okay, tonight's a wash. What about the rest of his New York trip?

On Friday, Pope Francis will address the United Nations at 8:30 a.m., where's he's expected to cover immigration and climate change. At 11:30 a.m., he'll lead an interfaith service at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Then he'll visit an East Harlem school at 4 p.m., process through Central Park at 5 p.m., and lead a Mass for an expected 20,000 at Madison Square Garden at 6 p.m. Hopefully he'll get to take a nap at some point, because that sounds exhausting. The New York Times has a cool interactive map that plots his entire U.S. trip, through the World Families meeting on Sunday in Philadelphia.

Any chance I can attend the interfaith service?

You had to win a ticket via lottery to attend—it's inside the 9/11 Museum, in Foundation Hall—though the procession to the memorial may be viewable from vantage points around the plaza. The pope will arrive in a golf cart, according to the NYTimes , to meet with first responders and their families by the memorial. The W New York Downtown has a fourth-floor Living Room Bar and Terrace with a balcony that just might allow a peak, as do the memorial-facing guest rooms. You can also befriend someone who works for Condé Nast—several offices overlook the memorial, and here at *Traveler,*we'll be live Tweeting and Instagramming the event.

What about the Central Park procession—that sounds promising. Can I see him then?

There was a lottery for tickets for that too, to stand along the route down West Drive, from 72nd Street to 60th Street. It winds past Strawberry Fields and Tavern on the Green, though this stretch just off the park is mostly residential.

Where is the pope staying in New York?

At the Papal Nuncio's Residence on East 72nd Street . It's the permanent home of the Vatican's U.N. rep, which is a five-story Upper East Side townhouse donated by the family of former NYC Mayor Hugh Grant to the Archdiocese of NY in 1975. Please don't bother him there.

I actually live in New York. Will I be able to get to work, or school, or out of my apartment?

Road closures are in place, and WNYC has a detailed map of those blocks , mostly around St. Patrick's, the U.N., and the Papal Nuncio. Blade, an Uber-for-helicopters startup, is going so far as to "fly people from the east to the west side of Manhattan for $95 to avoid pope traffic," reports Business Insider . Not sure what His Holiness would think of that.

Watch CBS News

History Of Papal Visits To New York City

September 9, 2015 / 12:08 PM EDT / CBS New York

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It took 20 centuries for a pope to set foot in the United States, and since then New York City has become a popular stop for papal visits.

"Greetings to you, America," said Pope Paul VI as he arrived at Kennedy Airport 50 years ago in October 1965.

50 Years Of Pope Visits To NYC

According to the New York Times, 18,000 police officers stood guard on his 25-mile route through New York.

During his trip, the pope met with then-President Lyndon Johnson, addressed the United Nations, visited St. Patrick's Cathedral, celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium and visited the Vatican Exhibit at the New York World's Fair.

Fourteen years later, Pope John Paul II marveled at the metropolis during Mass at Madison Square Garden and in the South Bronx his message was "do not abandon yourselves to despair."

He returned in 1995, celebrating Mass on the Great Lawn in Central Park, where 125,000 people gathered in the mud and under gray skies.

In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI held Mass at a standing room only Yankee Stadium and prayed at ground zero.

Next up is Pope Francis, who will visit New York City later this month.

He will arrive at Kennedy Airport from Washington, D.C. on Sept. 24 and attend evening prayer at St. Patrick's Cathedral . The next day, he will address the United Nations General Assembly, host an interfaith service at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, visit a school in East Harlem , take a motorcade through Central Park and celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden .

He will depart for Philadelphia on the morning of Sept. 26. For a complete schedule of the pope's upcoming visit, click here .

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Pope Francis' NYC Visit: What You Should Expect

Published september 22, 2015 • updated on september 25, 2015 at 10:59 am.

The pope is in town and everyone in New York City is going to feel some impact – even if they’re trying to stay far away from Francis’ big events.

Pope Francis’ visit to the city, the first since Benedict XVI toured the city for three days in 2008, will have wide-ranging implications in major and expected ways -- like traffic -- while making some surprising impacts -- including to mail delivery.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the region's largest transportation agency, has gone so far as to recommend that people who work in Manhattan telecommute on Friday.

Here’s a rundown of what to expect:

Dozens of streets will be closed at times from Thursday through Saturday for the pontiff’s visit. And, as the United Nations’ General Assembly meets the same week, there could be major gridlock at times throughout the city. See All the Traffic Changes Here

Officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads Thursday and Friday. They say that workers should try to take mass transit or, if possible, telecommute on those days.

MASS TRANSIT

The MTA announced plans to reroute portions of as many as 25 bus routes. All of the affected routes are in Manhattan. Manhattan portions of the Q32 bus will also be affected.  See All Bus Changes Here

No major subway changes are expected for the visit, but the MTA has said it would make adjustments as needed to accommodate for events. Some entrances to Penn Station will be closed during the Pope's Madison Square Garden Mass. 

The Long Island Railroad and Metro-North both announced to run extra trains on Friday to accommodate for extra riders coming to see the Pope’s procession through Central Park and Mass at Madison Square Garden. Lauren Scala has your guide to Penn Station during the visit.

The Port Authority says that there will be extra PATH service will be offered Friday for the papal events. The World Trade Center PATH station is expected to be open during the visit.

NJ Transit said that it will offer additional bus and train service for the pope’s visit on Friday. Over the weekend, the Atlantic City Rail Line, which runs between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, will not operate on a normal schedule, and commuters will not be able to board trains without a special event ticket. The River LINE, a light rail line that runs between Camden and Trenton, will also only accept special event passes. More Info Here .

No changes or delays have been announced at the region's major airports.

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A large swath of Central Park will be closed from 5 a.m. to 7 pm. Friday for Pope Francis’ pre-Mass procession. The park will be closed from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue between 59th and 81st streets. Visitors with tickets to see the procession will be able to get into the park, however.

A small portion of the lower park east of Center Drive and south of East 66th Street will remain open, along with the rest of the park above 81st Street. Park officials say crowds should be expected and that additional closures are possible.

CELLPHONE SERVICE

As with other major events, wireless service will be taxed by the sheer crush of data beamed to and from cell phones and mobile devices during the Pope’s visit. All four major wireless carriers -- Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint -- have announced plans to make temporary and permanent upgrades ahead of the visit.

Still, as with other major events, you should expect slower than usual internet service, dropped calls and slow-to-send text messages if you’re near one of the big events.

MAIL DELIVERY

Hope you’re not going to be waiting by the door for that new iPhone 6S. UPS – which is one of the carriers delivering Apple’s newest gadget – announced that it will not guarantee deliveries while the Pope is in New York City , and that it was canceling rounds in seven New York City zip codes.

Those zip codes include 10001, 10007, 10017, 10021, 10022, 10023 and 10029.

FedEx and the United States Postal Service said that its customers could also see some delays or changes in delivery. 

If you're going to one of the Pope's events, or if you work or live nearby, expect to see extra police, checkpoints and screenings throughout the city.  About 6,000 additional officers and 1,200 more patrol cars will be deployed for the visit. 

If you're going to one of the papal events, leave the selfie stick and drones at home: they're among the laundry list of items that won't be allowed anywhere Francis goes. 

Pope Francis arrives in New York City for…

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Pope francis arrives in new york city for historic visit.

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A group of nuns await Pope Francis' celebration of evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Sept. 24, 2015.

REUTERS/Andrew Burton/Getty Images/POOL

Pope Francis leads mass at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City. Pope Francis is visiting New York City during a six-day tour of the United States, with stops in Washington D.C., New York City and Philadelphia, PA.

TONY GENTILE/Reuters

Pope Francis shakes hands with an inmate during a meeting with prisoners at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015.

VINCENZO PINTO/Getty Images

Pope Francis shakes hands as he attends a multi-religious service for the victims of 9/11, at the 9/11 Memorial in New York, on Sept. 25, 2015. Pope Francis, who has built a wide global following for his reform-minded views, is on a five-day official visit to the US.

Robert Sabo/New York Daily News

Pope Francis is joined by Cardinal Timothy Dolan at the South Tower pool while remembering those who lost their lives during the September 11 terrorist attacks. Moments later, Pope Francis led a multi-faith service inside the 9/11 Museum on Sept. 25, 2015.

KEVIN LAMARQUE/Reuters

A nun holds a U.S. flag during an arrival ceremony for Pope Francis at the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015. The pontiff is on his first visit to the United States.

REUTERS/Michael Appleton/The New York Times/POOL

A choir sings at a mass lead by Pope Francis at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015.

BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters

Tenor Andrea Bocelli sings as the pontiff attends the Festival of Families in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.

Eric Thayer/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis watches dancers on stage during the Festival of Families on Sept. 26, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. Pope Francis is the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress and will finish his tour of Washington later today before traveling to New York City.

Theodore Parisienne for New York Daily News

Pope Francis is all smiles and waves as he rides his popemobile through Central Park before thousands of onlookers on Sept. 25, 2015.

Susan Watts/New York Daily News

The religious flock to St. Patrick's Cathedral in anticipation of Pope Francis's evening prayer service on Sept. 24, 2015.

Cliff Owen/AP Photos

Pope Francis greets well-wishers as he departs the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission inWashington on Sept. 23, 2015. Pope Francis will visit the White House where President Barack Obama will host a state arrival ceremony

Marcus Santos/New York Daily News

NYPD officers patrol the front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in preparation of the arrival of Pope Francis.

A group of nuns cheers during Pope Francis' celebration of evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, September 24, 2015. REUTERS/Tony Gentile

MANDEL NGAN/Getty Images

US President Barack Obama welcomes Pope Francis to the White House on Sept. 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama hosts Pope Francis at the White House for the first time Wednesday, warmly embracing the Catholic pontiff seen as both a moral authority and potent political ally.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (c.) is greeted as he arrives for Pope Francis' speech before the U.S. Congress in Washington on Sept. 24 2015.

Pope Francis celebrates his final mass of his visit to the United States at the Festival of Families on Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sept. 27, 2015.

The religious flock to St. Patrick's Cathedral to see Pope Francis's evening prayer service on Thursday September 24, 2015 - (Susan Watts/New York Daily News)

Alex Brandon/Pool/AP Photo

Thousands of people in the crowd wave to Pope Francis as he participates in a parade along the Ellipse and the National Mall in Washington D.C. on Sept. 23, 2015.

JONATHAN ERNST/Reuters

U.S. President Barack Obama (l.) greets Pope Francis upon his arrival at the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015.

Susan Walsh/AP Photo

Pope Francis greets children and receives flowers as he is escorted by President Barack Obama after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland on Sept. 22, 2015.

Andrew Burton/Getty Images

The Combined Choirs of St. Charles Borromeo sing gospel songs prior to a Mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City.

Tony Gentile/Pool Photo via AP

Pope Francis kisses a baby as he arrives to Independence Mall on Sept. 26, 2015, before delivering a speech in front of Independence Hall, in Philadelphia.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

Pope Francis and U.S. President Barack Obama during the arrival ceremony at the White House on Sept. 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. The Pope begins his first trip to the United States at the White House followed by a visit to St. Matthew's Cathedral, and will then hold a Mass on the grounds of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

NICHOLAS KAMM/Getty Images

A beautiful sunrise welcomes in the new day at the Capital just hours before Pope Francis addresses a Joint Session of Congress on the third day of his six-day visit to the US. Thousands of people waited hours to get a glimpse of the pope at the US Capitol.

Pope Francis visits the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City on Sept. 25, 2015 and prays at "Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning" by Spencer Finch. Reposed behind this blue wall are the remains of many who perished at the World Trade Center site on Sept. 11, 2001.

Italian classical tenor Andrea Bocelli shakes hands with Pope Francis after he sang "The Lord's Prayer" for the Holy Father in Philadelphia during the Festival of Families on Sept. 26, 2015.

CRAIG RUTTLE/AP

Pope Francis kisses Maria Teresa Heyer, a 1st grade student from Brooklyn as the pope is greeted by Heyer and other students who gave hime gifts as he arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sept. 24, 2015.

CARLO ALLEGRI/Reuters

Police stand in line on a street ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral for evening prayers on Sept. 24, 2015.

Pope Francis presides over evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Sept. 24, 2015.

The pontiff received a standing ovation inside St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Andrew Harnik/AP Photo

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet Pope Francis during a state arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015.

Pope Francis speaks during at the White House on Sept. 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama hosts Pope Francis at the White House for the first time Wednesday, warmly embracing the Catholic pontiff seen as both a moral authority and potent political ally.

JIM BOURG/Reuters

Pope Francis celebrates his final mass of his visit to the United States at the Festival of Families on Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sept. 27, 2015.

U.S. President Barack Obama (l.) looks back at Pope Francis as he delivers remarks upon the pontiff's arrival at the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

President Barack Obama (l.) warmly greets Pope Francis (r.) upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Sept. 22, 2015.

DEBBIE EGAN-CHIN/DAILY NEWS

Pope Francis arrives in New York at JFK airport. Thursday  September 24, 2015

U.S. President Barack Obama escorts Pope Francis (l.) towards the Oval Office as the pontiff is welcomed to the White House during a ceremony in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015.

Evan Vucci/AP Photo

Pope Francis reads from his script as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.

Pope Francis addresses a joint session of Congress on Sept. 24, 2014 in Washington, DC. The Pope is the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to address a joint meeting of Congress, including more than 500 lawmakers, Supreme Court justices and top administration officials including Vice President Joe Biden.

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Pope Francis celebrates Sunday Mass at Benjamin Franklin Parkway Sept. 27, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pope Francis concludes his tour of the U.S. with events in Philadelphia on Saturday and Sunday.

AFP PHOTO/POOL/Todd Heislertodd heisler/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis greets corrections officers at the Curran-Fromhold Correction Facility in Philadelphia, during his visit on Sept. 27, 2015.

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Pope Francis (3rd L) celebrates mass during the World Meeting of Families on Sept. 27, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pope Francis wrapped up his United States tour with the World Meeting of Families Papal Mass during on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

US Vice President Joe Biden (c.) speaks with clergy before the arrival of Pope Francis at the White House on Sept. 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama will host Pope Francis at the White House for the first time Wednesday, warmly embracing the Catholic pontiff seen as both a moral authority and potent political ally.

Pope Francis (c.) presides over a Canonization Mass for Friar Junipero Serra inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. on Sept. 23, 2015. This is the first mass Pope Francis has held on U.S. soil.

DAMON WINTER/Getty Images

Pope Francis makes his way down 5th Avenue in New York City to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Sept. 24, 2015.

ANDREW BURTON/Getty Images

Kelli O'Hara sings "The Lord's Prayer" prior to a mass led by Pope Francis at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City.

CARLOS BARRIA/Reuters

People pack the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to see Pope Francis appear on the Speaker's balcony before his speech to the U.S. Congress in Washington on Sept. 24 2015

Pope Francis presides over evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, on Sept. 24, 2015.

Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News

Pope Francis arrives in New York and greets Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, left, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, far left, at JFK airport on Sept. 24, 2015.

Gerard Gubatan,27, has cerebral palsy wait is thrilled to see Pope Francis in New York at JFK airport. Thursday September 24, 2015 Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News POPE FRANCIS

U.S. President Barack Obama sits with Pope Francis (l.) in the Oval Office as the pontiff is welcomed to the White House during a ceremony in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015.

Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pool

Pope Francis greets seminarians as he walks the loggia to his address to the Bishops at St. Martin of Tours Chapel at St.Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA on Sept. 27, 2015.

MOLLY RILEY/Getty Images

Pope Francis takes a photo with children whose parents work at the Lithuanian Embassy, outside the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States on Sept. 23, 2015 in Washington, DC.

Cliff Owen/AP Photo

Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up while greeting school children before departing the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington on Sept. 24, 2015, en route to the Capitol to address a joint meeting of Congress.

ROBERT SABO/New York Daily News

Pope Francis, accompanied by Timothy Cardinal Dolan (left), enters St. Patrick's Cathedral on Thursday night.

US President Barack Obama welcomes Pope Francis to the White House on Sept. 23, 2015 in Washington, DC.

Richard Drew/AP

Pope Francis? motorcade moves through New York City streets, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, on the way to St. Patrick?s Cathedral where he will lead an evening prayer service. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, Pool)

Julie Jacobson/AP Photo

Pope Francis blesses the Eucharist with incense while celebrating mass at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015, in New York.

BRENDAN MCDERMID/Reuters

Security personnel watch from the back of a vehicle as Pope Francis tours Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Carl Court/Getty Images

Pope Francis waves as he drives along Benjamin Franklin Parkway to lead Mass in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Pope Francis is on the final day of his trip to the United States and will conduct Mass and meet with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families before returning to Rome this evening.

People pack the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to see Pope Francis appear on the Speaker's balcony during his speech to the U.S. Congress in Washington on Sept. 24 2015.

Pope Francis (l.) poses with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations in New York, where he will become the fourth pontiff to address the whole body on Sept. 25, 2015. Pope Francis is expected to address climate change and the migrant crisis as he did in front of Congress and in speeches around Washington.

Pope Francis signs a guest book as he meets with United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-moon (not pictured) at the United Nations in New York on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York.

GARY CAMERON/Reuters

Pope Francis rides down Constitution Avenue in his Popemobile in Washington on day two of his first visit to the United States in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015. Pope Francis met with U.S. President Obama earlier this morning.

Richard Drew/Pool/AP Photo

New York City police officers watch over the pope mobile as they wait for the arrival of Pope Francis on Sept. 24, 2015.

Pope Francis applauds as the legendary Aretha Franklin as she walks onstage to sing for him during the Festival of Families in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.

Pope Francis shakes hands with members of the congregation after delivering an evening prayer at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sept. 24, 2015.

Pope Francis enters the cathedral on Sept. 24, 2015 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, New York.

ALEX BRANDON/Getty Images

People cheer before a parade for Pope Francis, on Sept. 23, 2015 in Washington, DC.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Pope Francis share a laugh as President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama (r.) welcomed the Pontiff upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington on Sept. 22, 2015.

REUTERS/Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday/POOL

Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Pope Francis, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, look upon a broken piece of steel from the World Trade Center as they tour the 9/11 memorial and museum in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Richard Drew-Pool/Getty Images

Thousands watch Pope Francis ride in the popemobile through Central Park on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City. The pope is in New York on a two-day visit carrying out a number of engagements, including celebrating Mass in Madison Square Garden.

Pope Francis walks aboard the papal plane while en route to Italy on Sept. 28, 2015. The pope left the United States on Sunday night, departing from Philadelphia International Airport on an American Airlines flight to Rome.

CHAD RACHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis walks down the aisle of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, as he arrives to celebrate vespers on September 24, 2015. AFP PHOTO/POOL/CHAD RACHMANCHAD RACHMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis touches a student's head as he visits Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

The Pope has landed! After spending some time in Cuba, Pope Francis has finally arrived in the United States to begin his five-day visit for the first time ever. Here, Pope Francis descends the air stairs from his aircraft upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington on Sept. 22, 2015.

TONY GENTILE/Getty Images

US President Barack Obama shakes hands with Pope Francis as the pontiff is welcomed to the White House during a ceremony in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015.

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/Getty Images

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives to hear Pope Francis speaks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Pope Francis' airplane is seen in the sky before touching down at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland for his first visit to the Uniter States as pope.

Pope Francis (r.) poses with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Steve Helber/AP Photo

Pope Francis blesses the altar for the Canonization Mass of Blessed Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. on Sept. 23, 2015.

Robert Deutsch/AP

Audience members await the entrance of Pope Francis before he leads an evening prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sept. 24, 2015, in New York.

REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Actor Mark Wahlberg speaks as Pope Francis (L, rear) attends the Festival of Families rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sept. 26, 2015.

U.S. President Barack Obama (l.) stands with Pope Francis during an arrival ceremony for the pope at the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015. The pontiff is on his first visit to the United States.

JIM WATSON/AFP Photo

US President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Pope Francis wave during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on Sept. 23, 2015. More than 15,000 people packed the South Lawn for a full ceremonial welcome on Pope Francis' historic maiden visit to the United States.

Pearl Gabel/REUTERS

Well-wishers hold images of Pope Francis while waiting outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral ahead of his visit to Manhattan, New York September 24, 2015. Pope Francis is scheduled to attend evening prayer services at St. Patrick's Cathedral. REUTERS/Pearl Gabel

ANDREW KELLY/Reuters

Pope Francis addresses attendees in the opening ceremony to commence a plenary meeting of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Pope Francis departs an airplane after he arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sept. 24, 2015, in New York.

CRAIG RUTTLE/AP/POOL

Pope Francis kisses Maria Teresa?Heyer, a 1st grade student from Brooklyn as the pope is greeted by Heyer and other students who gave hime gifts as he arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. The pope is on a five-day trip to the USA, which includes stops in Washington DC, New York and Philadelphia, after a three-day stay in Cuba. (Craig Ruttle/AP/POOL)

AP Photo/Michael Perez

Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia is lit up at dusk and lined with tens of thousands of people as Pope Francis makes his way along the thoroughfare on Sept. 26, 2015. The pontiff attended a music-and-prayer festival there Saturday night to close out the World Meeting of Families, a Vatican-sponsored conference of more than 18,000 people from around the world.

Pope Francis talks aboard the papal plane while en route to Italy on Sept. 28, 2015. The pope left the United States on Sunday night, departing from Philadelphia International Airport on an American Airlines flight to Rome.

U.S. President Barack Obama (r.) smiles as Pope Francis shakes hands with first lady Michelle Obama as the Obama's daughters Malia (l.) and Sasha look on upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington on Sept. 22, 2015.

S First Lady Michelle Obama, US Vice President Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, Ethel Kennedy and US Secretary of State John Kerry attend the arrival ceremony for Pope Francis on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on Sept. 23, 2015. More than 15,000 people packed the South Lawn for a full ceremonial welcome on Pope Francis' historic maiden visit to the United States.

Pope Francis smiles as he enters Madison Square Garden to lead a mass before an audience estimated at 20,000 in New York City on Sept. 25, 2015.

Pope Francis enters the cathedral on Sept. 24, 2015. The service was conducted before a congregation of men and women clergy, heads of archdioceses and special guests.

Pope Francis presides over a Canonization Mass for Friar Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015. The mass was delivered in Spanish, the pope's native tongue, as he has become an icon to Hispanics as the first Latino pope.

Pope Francis arrives in New York and greets Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio,center, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, 2nd left, at JFK airport. Thursday September 24, 2015.

Pope Francis kisses the cross at the entrance to the cathedral on Sept. 24, 2015 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, New York.

Mindy Schauer/AP

Pope Francis makes his way into the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, as people cheer him on. He held a canonized mass for Father Junipero Serra on his first U.S. visit. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)

MATT ROURKE/AFP/Getty Images

Comedian Jim Gaffigan performs during the Festival of Families where Pope Francis is scheduled to appear in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.

Pope Francis in New York gets on US Marines helicopter at JFK airport. Thursday September 24, 2015 Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News POPE FRANCIS

New York City Mayor Bill de blasio stands with New York Senator Charles Schumer (R) ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral for evening prayers in New York City on Sept. 24, 2015.

President Barack Obama walk out of the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015, to greet Pope Francis for a state arrival ceremony on the South Lawn.

AFP PHOTO/JEWEL SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis waves during a parade to an open-air mass at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sept. 27, 2015.

Pope Francis waves to the enthusiastic crowd as he arrives at the Festival of Families rally along Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.

JIM WATSON/Getty Images

Pope Francis, accompanied by Cardinal Timothy Dolan prays with a group of students as he visits Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Immigration reform activists hold a banner in front of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Sept. 24, 2015 before Pope Francis addresses a Joint Session of Congress on the third day of his six-day visit to the US.

Pope Francis arrives at the 9/11 Memorial to lead a multi-faith service on Sept. 25, 2015.

AP Photo/David Goldman

Sisters with Handmade at the Heart of Jesus, out of New Ulm, Minn., cheer as Pope Francis drives by during a parade along Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sept. 26, 2015, in Philadelphia.

Matt Rourke/AP Photo

Pope Francis, lower center, celebrates his final mass in Philadelphia during his six-day visit to the United States on Sept. 27, 2015.

Pope Francis smiles as he addresses inmates during his visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015.

People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the White House on Sept. 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama will host Pope Francis at the White House for the first time Wednesday, warmly embracing the Catholic pontiff seen as both a moral authority and potent political ally.

Jennifer Hudson sings "Hallelujah" prior to a mass led by Pope Francis at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City.

Pope Francis looks out the window of his plane before departing Philadelphia on September 27, 2015 at the end of his six-day visit to the US.

John Minchillo/AP Photo

Pope Francis traveled to the United States for the first time on Sept. 22, 2015 for a five-day tour of Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia. During his visit, the Pope met with President Obama and addressed Congress for the first time, particularly urging the country to open its arms to refugees and advocating for the abolition of the death penalty. In New York City he visited the 9/11 memorial, held mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and spoke at the U.N. General Assembly, speaking mainly about climate change. His visit to each city brought thousands of excited spectators and increased security.

Pope Francis rides through Central Park in the popemobile on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City. The Pope is in New York on a two-day visit, speaking earlier at the United Nations General-Assembly and celebrating Mass in Madison Square Garden.

Pope Francis, center left, blesses cancer-survivor Sandra Lee, partner of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, at the South Pool of the 9/11 Memorial in downtown Manhattan on Sept. 25, 2015, in New York.

Pope Francis engages well wishes including Gerard Gubatan of Brooklyn after arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sept. 24, 2015, in New York.

Todd Maisel/New York Daily News

Pope Francis arrived in Pope mobile to St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan. HERE, the Pope leaves in a Fiat. 9-24-15 (Todd Maisel/New York Daily News)

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Pool

The Rev. Jesse Jackson arrives at the Festival of Families on Sept. 26, 2015, ahead of Pope Francis' arrival in Philadelphia.

Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News

Pope Francis arrives by helicopter to the Wall Street Heliport in Manhattan, New York City on Thursday, September 24 2015. (Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News)

School children wait for Pope Francis to depart the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015. President Barack will host Pope Francis during a state visit at the White House.

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Attendees, waiting hours to hear Pope Francis speak at Independence Hall later in the day, watch on large screens as he celebrates mass at a nearby cathedral in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sept. 26, 2015.

Alex Brandon/AP Photo

Pope Francis holds the head of a small child as he leans from the popemobile during a parade on Sept. 23, 2015, in Washington.

Pope Francis attends a multi-religious service for the victims of 9/11 in New York on Sept. 25, 2015. Pope Francis, who has built a wide global following for his reform-minded views, is on a five-day official visit to the US.

Michael Perez/AP Photo

Thousands of people gathered at Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Papal Mass on Sept. 27, 2015. Pope Francis is in Philadelphia for the last leg of his six-day visit to the United States.

VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images

Pope Francis' cape is lifted by the wind as he speaks at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.

People watch Pope Francis on a large screen television from the West Front of the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 24, 2015, as the Pope speaks inside before a joint meeting of Congress. The Pope Francis is the first pontiff in history to speak before a joint meeting of Congress.

Nuns share a joke as they eagerly await Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral for an evening prayer service on Sept. 24, 2015.

Harry Connick Jr. sings during a pre-Mass program in preparation for the arrival of Pope Francis who is to celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015.

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is in attendance at St. Patrick's Cathedral in anticipation of Pope Francis' evening prayer service on Sept. 24, 2015.

Pope Francis blesses an inmate as he meets with prisoners at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015.

The religious flock to St. Patrick's Cathedral to see Pope Francis's evening prayer service on Thursday September 24, 2015  - (Susan Watts/New York Daily News)

Pope Francis is accompanied by Cardinal Timothy Dolan (c.) as he visits Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo

Inocencia Polanco, of Philadelphia and originally form the Dominican Republic, center in hat, joined by Freddy Espana of Honduras, left in striped shirt, and Maria Zuleta of Columbia, low center in white, pray a novena together as they crowd into Independence Mall ahead of Pope Francis' speech outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.

Pope Francis embraces Cardinal Timothy Dolan after presiding over evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Sept. 24, 2015.

Marie Eveleth, of Washington, N.J., wears earnings that spell out 'pope' as she sells them to pedestrians around City Hall before Pope Francis comes through the area for a parade in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.

The pontiff waves as he rides up Fith Ave. toward St. Patrick's Cathedral prior to evening services.

MICHAEL APPLETON/The New York Times/POOL

Pope Francis takes to the stage to lead a mass in front of a staggering 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015.

Vice President Joe Biden, second from right, and his wife Jill Biden, left, say goodbye to Pope Francis, right, as he prepares to depart Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015, on his way back to the Vatican.

Parishioners wait patiently for the Pope to arrive on Sept. 24, 2015 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, New York.

Pope Francis waves to those gathered in Philadelphia as he makes his way to his last mass service in the US on Sept. 27, 2015.

REUTERS/Susan Watts/Daily News/POOL

Pope Francis is guided through the 9/11 Memorial by Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (l.) and Cardinal Timothy Dolan (r.), pictured here standing next to a segment of the radio and television antenna that was atop the North Tower.

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Pope Francis arrives for the canonization Mass for Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Sept. 23, 2015 in Washington, D.C. Junipero Serra was an 18th century Spanish Franciscan friar who founded a mission in Baja, California to bring Christianity to the indigenous population. This is the first-ever canonization by a Pope on U.S. soil.

A woman shows off her rosary while waiting outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral ahead of the Pope Francis' visit to Manhattan, New York September 24, 2015. Pope Francis is scheduled to attend evening prayer services at St. Patrick's Cathedral. REUTERS/Pearl Gabel

Pope Francis arrived in the Popemobile to St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on Sept. 24, 2015.

The Combined Choirs of St. Charles Borromeo sing gospel songs prior to a mass led by Pope Francis at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City.

A group of nuns excitedly await Pope Francis' celebration of evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Sept. 24, 2015.

REUTERS/Jewel Samad/POOL

Pope Francis arrives in his popemobile for the Festival of Families along Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015.

Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo

The Pope hugs a wheelchair-bound fan during the World Meeting of Families on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sept. 26, 2015. Hundreds of thousands of Roman Catholics made the pilgrimage to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis on the last leg of his visit to the United States, where they hoped to catch a glimpse of the popular pontiff.

Pope Francis waves as he departs the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington on Sept. 24, 2015, en route to the Capitol to address a joint meeting of Congress.

Pope Francis touches a student's face as he visits Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Mel Evans/AP Photo

Archbishop Charles Chaput, left, and Bishop Timothy Senior, right, listen as Pope Francis, addresses a gathering in Saint Martin's Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary on Sept. 27, 2015.

Pope Francis sprinkles Holy water at the entrance to the St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sept. 24, 2015 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, New York.

Nuns watch as Pope Francis leads Mass attended by thousands of the ticketed faithful at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Madame Tussauds

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: Madame Tussauds New York unveils a never-before-seen Pope Francis figure with a tour around New York City in a 'Pope Mobile' to celebrate the Pope's inaugural U.S. visit on September 24, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Madame Tussauds New York)

Gardiner Anderson/New York Daily News

Pope Francis arrives by helicopter to the Wall Street Heliport in Manhattan, New York City on Sept. 24 2015.

U.S. President Barack Obama (l.) and Pope Francis watch onstage as the "Old Guard" fife and drum corps marches past during an official welcome ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2015.

Pope Francis shakes hands with Vice President Joe Biden along with U.S. President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and other political and Catholic church leaders after arriving from Cuba on Sept. 22, 2015 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

REUTERS/Julio Cortez/AP/POOL

Pope Francis prays at the edge of the South Pool at the World Trade Center in New York, alongside Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani and Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Sept. 25, 2015.

REUTERS/Tom Gralish/Pool

Pope Francis poses with seminarians on the steps of St. Martin of Tours Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sept. 27, 2015.

People wait eagerly for Pope Francis to arrive in New York at JFK airport. Thursday September 24, 2015 Debbie Egan-Chin/New York Daily News POPE FRANCIS

People gather along Benjamin Franklin Parkway ahead of a Mass to be led by Pope Francis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sept. 27, 2015. Pope Francis is on the final day of his trip to the United States and will conduct Mass and meet with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families before returning to Rome this evening.

Pope Francis waits to address the United Nations in New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

Filmmaker Martin Scorsese is among guests eagerly awaiting for Pope Francis to arrive for an evening prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sept. 24, 2015.

Pope Francis takes in the view from his automobile after his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Sept. 22, 2015.

AFP PHOTO/VINCENZO PINTO

Pope Francis is welcomed onstage with applause as he arrives for the Festival of Families in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sept. 26, 2015.

Pope Francis arrives for a plenary meeting of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 at United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York on Sept. 25, 2015.

JIN LEE/Getty Images

Pope Francis visits Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem, in New York City on Sept. 25, 2015.

As entrances go, this one was divine.

Pope Francis touched down in New York City on Thursday to the strains of “New York, New York” and began his historic 39-hour pilgrimage to the city that never sleeps by taking a drive up Fifth Ave.

Inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Francis paused to bless a young girl in a wheelchair and then got a standing ovation when he reached out to a group that has at times felt marginalized — the nuns who serve the church.

“To the religious women of the United States,” Francis said in his native Spanish. “What would the church be without you?”

Continuing his homily after a round of thunderous applause, the Pope said, “I wish to say thank you . . . and to tell you that I love you very much.”

LIVE BLOG: THE DAILY NEWS FOLLOWS THE POPE IN NEW YORK

When the prayer service was over, Timothy Cardinal Dolan asked the Pope to bless the recently refurbished cathedral.

“As soon as you walked through the doors, you became a New Yorker,” Dolan said to laughter and cheers. “Thank you for stopping by. Come back soon.”

Francis quickly obliged Dolan and gave a blessing, this time in English.

It was the dramatic start to Francis’ first-ever visit to New York City — a whirlwind sojourn that will take him from one end of Manhattan to the other.

And it came after Francis’ triumphant tour of Washington, during which he made history by becoming the first Pope to ever address a joint session of Congress .

THE WISDOM OF POPE FRANCIS

Francis landed at 5:23 p.m. at Kennedy Airport where he was met by Dolan, Brooklyn Diocese Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and hundreds of excited New Yorkers waving Vatican flags.

Just as he did when he landed Tuesday at Andrews Air Force base, Francis took off his white skull cap before climbing down the stairs to the tarmac from an American Airlines jet that has been christened Shepherd One.

Francis shook hands with the waiting clergymen and then made a beeline for five excited Catholic school students who handed him a book filled with poems and prayers penned by other students from across Brooklyn and Queens.

From there, Francis turned his attention to the waiting crowd, shaking dozens of hands, handing out Mass cards — and laughing with delight when somebody passed him a Pope Francis doll.

In the crowd was 12-year-old Julia Bruzzese of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, a student athlete who suddenly lost the ability to walk in May.

“I came here because I want the holy father to touch me and give me a blessing,” Julia said in tears. “I feel like he’ll make me feel better.”

MTA BOSS SAYS TRANSIT AGENCY CAN HANDLE BIG CROWDS TRAVELING TO SEE POPE FRANCIS

Julia’s prayers were answered when Francis put his hands on her forehead, nodded and gave her his blessing.

Meanwhile, a 43-member jazz band from Xavarian Catholic School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, played Frank Sinatra’s anthem to New York City and “City of God” as Francis set foot in the city.

By 5:31 p.m., just eight minutes after his plane landed, Francis was on a U.S. Marines chopper headed across the East River to the heliport in lower Manhattan.

There, Francis climbed into his now famous Fiat 500L and headed uptown to Fifth Ave. and 54th St., where he climbed into the Popemobile at 6:30 p.m.

Thousands of excited New Yorkers pressed against the police barricades and cheered as Francis rode by, escorted by dozens of NYPD officers on motorcycles — and Dolan riding shotgun.

Smiling broadly, the 78-year-old leader of the Catholic church waved and blessed the cheering crowd, but unlike in Washington he didn’t stop to kiss any children — to the relief of the Secret Service agents and NYPD officers assigned to protect him.

Francis’ arrival at St. Pat’s was heralded by church bells that began ringing when he was several blocks away.

CALIFORNIA FAMILY VISITS D.C. TO SEE POPE FRANCIS AND GETS AN UNEXPECTED GIFT

Waiting for Francis at the entrance were Mayor de Blasio, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Cuomo, with whom he exchanged greetings in Italian. NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton attended the service as well.

Also standing on the steps of the iconic edifice were employees of Structure Tone, the family-owned business that oversaw the $177 million restoration — and students from Regis High School, the prestigious, Jesuit-run Roman Catholic high school on the Upper East Side.

Once Francis was inside, a choir burst into song and the worshipers began applauding, among them director Martin Scorsese, who excitedly recorded the Pope’s entrance on his phone.

As Francis made his way to the altar, he stopped to greet and bless people in the pews, paying particular attention to the children.

Francis began the prayer service with a greeting to “our Islamic brothers” who are mourning the deaths of more than 700 pilgrims who were killed in a stampede in Mecca.

He also tried to buck-up the priests who “suffered greatly” and have had to “bear the shame” of the pedophiles in their ranks.

Following vespers, Sandra Lee, Gov. Cuomo’s celebrity chef girlfriend, got a special blessing from the pontiff.

“Sandra Lee and the governor were extremely grateful for his kindness,” a Cuomo aide said.

Lee has been recovering from a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year.

After the service, Francis climbed back into the Fiat and — waving at well-wishers from an open window — headed the wrong way up Fifth Ave. to the residence of the Vatican’s representative to the United Nations on E. 72nd St.

There he will spend the night — and rest up for Friday, his first full day in the city.

A couple hours before Francis arrived at St. Pat’s, Donald Trump popped out of the nearby tower that bears his name to see what the fuss was all about — only to be chased back inside by boos.

Just minutes before the Pope showed up, Trump appeared again on a balcony of his building and the crowd began chanting “Feo! Feo!” — the Spanish word for ugly.

Francis’ first stop on Friday is an 8:30 a.m. address to the UN General Assembly.

Then Francis heads downtown to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum for a multi-religious service.

The Pope will then travel uptown to Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem to meet with immigrants and poor children.

Following that, Francis will be feted by 80,000 New Yorkers in a procession down West Drive from 72nd St. to 60th St.

Francis will finish off the day by celebrating Mass at Madison Square Garden.

On Saturday morning, Francis heads back to JFK and flies off to Philadelphia.

Even before Francis arrived, the NYPD assigned 7,000 officers to guard His Holiness around the clock — and turned Central Park into an impregnable fortress.

There have been no credible threats against Francis, but just as in Washington neither the local cops nor the Secret Service were taking any chances.

With New York City facing Popelock, transit officials were urging travelers to use the subway and avoid driving in Manhattan.

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With Kenneth Lovett, Dan Rivoli, Thomas Tracy, Joe Stepansky, Scott Widener, Raakhee Mirchandani

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The New York Times

Live coverage | highlights of pope francis’ visit to the united states, highlights of pope francis’ visit to the united states.

By The New York Times September 23, 2015 September 23, 2015

A Whirlwind Papal Journey Concludes

• The crowded agenda of the Pope’s first visit to the United States ended in Philadelphia, where he met with victims of sexual abuse, spoke to inmates and celebrated a Mass in the heart of the city.
• Sunday culminated a six-day, three-city tour , where, in his public appearances, he continued to call for unity and underscore the importance of family.
• While hundreds of thousands of people were moved by the opportunity to pray with the pope, he left America with a blessing and his signature request: “Pray for me.”

So Long, America

One More Embrace: ‘God Bless America’

I embrace all of you in the Lord and I entrust you to the maternal care of Mary Immaculate, Patroness of the United States. I will pray for you and your families, and I ask you, please, to pray for me. May God bless you all. God bless America!

– Pope Francis, in final remarks before returning home

This Land is Blessed

This land has been blessed with tremendous gifts and opportunities. I pray that you may all be good and generous stewards of the human and material resources entrusted to you.

– Pope Francis, in final remarks before returning home.

A Final Ode to Family

I pray that our days of prayer and reflection on the importance of the family for a healthy society will inspire families to continue to strive for holiness and to see the Church as their constant companion, whatever the challenges they may face.

– Pope Francis, in final remarks before heading home

Mass Concluded, Pope Francis Makes Way to Airport

Pope Francis headed to the airport, having concluded the final and largest Mass of his trip.

He continued to touch on themes of unity and family in his last homily and thanked the crowd of thousands who gathered to pray with him in Philadelphia.

“Thank you very much for your participation and for your love of family,” Francis said. “And I ask you pray for me. Don’t forget.”

The pope has one more public appearance to make before his plane takes off. He will be greeted by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. as well as organizers and volunteers of the World Meeting of Families event at the airport.

A Baby Is Blessed, and a Mother Is Overcome

Narcisa Chuquirima only wanted to see Pope Francis. That would have been more than enough.

She had traveled to Philadelphia from Newark with her husband, her daughter and two of her four sons, including four-month-old Noah Gabriel. They were part of a group from St. Aloysius Parish that had come to participate in the weekend’s events.

“To see him is a blessing,” she said.

At about midday on Sunday, the group – numbering about 230 and wearing matching dark blue T-shirts – made their way through the streets of downtown Philadelphia, passed through the security perimeter and, despite the tens of thousands who had already poured into the area, somehow found a large patch of empty grass along the police barricades lining Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

“It was ready for us,” said Ms. Chuquirima, 37, a daycare worker and an Ecuadorean immigrant like her husband Amable Chuquirima, 44. They laid out cardboard and plastic sheeting and got comfortable, hoping that they had correctly guessed the pope’s route to the Mass.

As they waited, Ms. Chuquirima, came up with a plan: Should the pope drive by, she told her group, everyone should yell the pope’s name in unison in the hope he might turn to them.

At about 3:30 p.m. they heard the distant roar of the crowd, and that sound swept closer like an approaching storm, tracking the movement of the pope’s convoy – a thunderous wave of adulation.

It was headed toward their spot of grass. Ms. Chuquirima lifted Noah Gabriel, in his baptism clothes of a white singlet and white beanie, into her arms.

The popemobile came into view, and the group saw a member of the pope’s security detail carrying a baby to the pope for a blessing.

Ms. Chuquirima allowed herself a thought: Maybe they would also pick Noah Gabriel.

“But I didn’t think he would stop,” she recalled. She kept yelling and whistling all the same. “Papa! Papa!” she hollered, using the Spanish word for pope.

Francis was looking in the other direction as he drew abreast of the group but one of his security guards spotted Noah Gabriel and headed toward him.

“As he got close, my legs started shaking,” Ms. Chuquirima recalled. “Even as I tell the story now, my legs are shaking.”

The baby was lifted from her arms and, overwhelmed with emotion, she clutched the guardrail to prevent herself from collapsing. “I was yelling and crying, saying, ‘God loves me. God loves me.’ I feel like God touched me, he gave me his hand.”

She was so overcome with emotion, she was unable to see what happened next: The security guard carried Noah Gabriel to the pope, who touched and kissed his head. The group from San Aloysius Church was ecstatic.

Moments later, the baby was back in his mother’s arms.

“I felt like my son was an angel,” Ms. Chuquirima said. Still overwhelmed by the memory an hour and a half after the event, she started crying once again. “It’s a blessing for our family, for our parish. I feel like God chose this baby, to be a martyr, to be something special.”

“We feel like he’s going to save us from the waters, from the high tides,” said Ms. Chuquirima’s daughter, Jeannie, 14.

“We’re a very humble family,” Mr. Chuquirima, a carpenter, added. “We work day in and day out to support the family. It was a real blessing.”

Pope Francis Seen as Inspiring Outreach to the Vulnerable

Bishop Edward J. Burns of Juneau, Alaska, said of Francis’ visit, “It was not only a home run. It was a grand slam.”

He said in an interview that it was inspiring to see the pope reach across barricades to embrace people in need and people who are suffering.

“He stops and reaches out to those who suffer, and it’s an example and a model for us as bishops as well,” he said.

Praying with the Pope

On Overcoming Evil

Anyone who wants to bring into this world a family which teaches children to be excited by every gesture aimed at overcoming evil – a family which shows that the Spirit is alive and at work – will encounter our gratitude and our appreciation.

– Pope Francis, in the homily at his final Mass in Philadelphia

Love Is the Little Things

Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs which make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches.

– Pope Francis, in his homily at a final Mass in Philadelphia

An Openness to Faith

Jesus encountered hostility from people who did not accept what he said and did. For them, his openness to the honest and sincere faith of many men and women who were not part of God’s chosen people seemed intolerable.

Pope Francis, in his homily at a final Mass in Philadelphia

Live Video of the Mass on Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Pilgrims Pack Streets as Pope Rides to Mass

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims packed the long boulevard leading to the makeshift sanctuary where Pope Francis is celebrating the concluding Mass of the World Meeting of Families on Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Waving Mexican, Argentine, Vatican and other flags from around the world, the throng cheered as the pope, standing in his popemobile, took a spin around the boulevard, blessed babies and, as the choir struck up with “hallelujah,” climbed out to meet the people pressed against the gates.

Victims Suggest Church Is Shifting Debate on Abuse

The five victims of child sexual abuse who met with Pope Francis on Sunday morning included some who had been abused by relatives or educators, not Roman Catholic clergy — a deliberate decision made to show that the church is taking a “larger perspective” on the problem of sexual abuse, said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman.

Victims of clergy sex abuse and their advocates saw something less benign at work: a subtle but unmistakable effort by the Vatican to shift the terms of the debate, to show “that it’s not always the church’s fault,” as Marci A. Hamilton, a law professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University who has represented hundreds of victims of clerical sexual abuse, put it.

Church officials have argued that sexual abuse of children is not confined to the Catholic Church, pointing out that it infects other institutions and other religions as well. The pope may not have explicitly said the same, the advocates said, but the meeting’s inclusion of people abused by teachers and relatives as well as priests spoke volumes.

“He almost seems to be trying to deflect attention somewhere else,” said Barbara Blaine, the president of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, the country’s most prominent support and advocacy group for victims of clergy sexual abuse. “Of course those who are sexually violated suffer horribly, regardless of who the perpetrator is. But the problem that we see is that we think Pope Francis has both the authority and the responsibility to stop the sexual violence in the church, and he’s failing to do that.”

The Italian Feast That Could’ve Been

While “thrilled” that the pope stopped at St. Joseph’s University, the Rev. Philip Florio was disappointed that Francis did not add a visit to Old St. Joseph’s Church to his itinerary.

“I’m admittedly disappointed that he didn’t stop here,” Father Florio said, noting that his parish is the oldest Catholic church in Philadelphia.

“Besides, as an Italian-American I would’ve had ravioli, meatballs and Italian sausage waiting for him,” he said. “It’s a Sunday after all, and he’s of Italian heritage. We usually have a big Sunday meal!”

Smile for the Smartphones

Sydney Archbishop Reflects on Call to Strengthen Family Ties

Pope Francis’ call on Sunday morning for bishops to strengthen their familial ties did not go unnoticed.

Anthony Fisher, the archbishop of Sydney, Australia, who was in town for the events, said the speech gave him plenty to reflect upon.

“I think it’s interesting that he was insisting that we had to rebuild or renew our covenant with families, suggesting that we maybe weren’t as close to families as we should be as bishops, and there is an important challenge in that for us to reflect on,” he said. “Is it the case that we are too far removed from our families and their lives?”

He also addressed he pope’s message about the challenges of living within modern society.

“I think it has been a message of his on several occasions, including when he addressed the U.S. bishops, about not always being in contest, not approaching family life always with a critique of what’s wrong with the world, the way families are in the world today,” he said.

When asked if he had heard much of a critique from the pope about social issues including same-sex marriage, the archbishop said, “No. Well, he’s touched on them but very gently and I think that’s — he’s probably modeling what he is calling the bishops to when he is saying to not be permanently in a posture of contest with our surrounding culture. That seems to be what he is proposing to us.”

The archbishop said the pope seemed to be asking “whether he thinks something more friendly and dialogical relationship rather than what people have called the culture wars is more likely to win hearts and minds.”

On Sale This Fall: The Pope’s Greatest Hits

You’ve seen the tour, now you can buy the album.

As The Times has reported, the pope is scheduled to release an album called “Wake Up!” on Nov. 27, after his whirlwind United States trip, during which he has been greeted by hundreds of thousands of well-wishers. The album features the pope’s speeches set to rock, pop and Gregorian chants, and will raise money for a support fund for refugees.

Next Up From Pope Francis? An Album, of Course

By ANDREW R. CHOW

After his whirlwind United States tour, Pope Francis will release a Vatican-approved album, which features his speeches set to rock and sacred music.

Cheers From Students at St. Joseph’s University

Cheers erupted from a crowd of several hundred people, mostly students, when the pope’s Fiat arrived on the campus of St. Joseph’s University, a Jesuit university in Philadelphia.

The stop, announced publicly only shortly before he arrived, allowed for the most famous member of the Jesuit religious order to honor fellow Jesuits who were hoping for such acknowledgment. On other trips abroad, Francis has visited his Jesuit brothers.

On the edge of a campus lawn, the pope greeted the well-wishers, many of whom carried cellphones to record the event.

In a nod to his frequent outreach to those practicing other faiths, a highlight of his stop at the university was to view a newly installed statue that commemorates the tie between Catholic and Jewish faiths.

The statue, “Synagoga and Ecclesia in Our Time,” was created by Joshua Koffman, a local artist, and dedicated last week. According to the University, the statue was erected to commemorate “the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document that transformed the relationship between the Catholic and Jewish faiths.”

As he blessed the statue, he was joined by an old friend and fellow Argentine, Rabbi Abraham Skorka.

The trip lasted less than 10 minutes, and ended with the pope waving good-bye from the back of his car.

. @Pontifex is on our campus? Is this real life? pic.twitter.com/tr7cuhTIuE — Saint Joseph's (@saintjosephs) September 27, 2015

Awaiting Final Mass, Pope’s Message Resonates

Susan McNeil, the director of Marriage and Family Life at the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, was carrying a folding chair towards the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, where Francis would give his final mass in America later in the day. She said that she took Francis’ advice in his speech to bishops earlier in the morning to heart.

“He told them embrace families,” said Ms. McNeil, an attendee of the World Meeting of Families here. “It’s a reminder and we all need a reminder now and then. When you are a bishop you have a lot of meetings and governance, I know our bishop is very busy. It’s a reminder not to forget why I’m there.”

Her friend, Grace Urbanski, the director of Apostleship of Prayer, a children’s ministry in Milwaukee, called Francis the “pastor of the U.S. parish.” And said that her own priest often dined in the homes of his parish’s families to stay grounded in the real challenges they faced. She said “bishops don’t get that chance. They are invited to a lot of fancy dinners” and had last chance to get “messy.”

Asked about the pope’s reemphasis on “appreciation” over “complaints” of the family, on a pastoral approach instead of reiterating doctrine, Ms. McNeil said “it a both, and situation.” She said “none of us meet the ideal” and the mission is to “continue to draw them closer to us and not push them away.”

“It’s come as you are, but don’t stay there,” said Ms. Urbanski.

• [email protected]

As we enter a year filled with anticipation, a prevalent question surfaces: Will Pope Francis make a return to Argentina after a decade of his pontificate? This query resonates with many, as Pope Francis has often voiced his wish to revisit his homeland - a trip that would be his first as the pontiff. Despite this desire, health issues have been a concern, notably his influenza, which, while unrelated to his overall health that necessitated two surgeries in the past three years, led to the cancellation of his intended trip to Dubai for COP28.

In an interview with Televisa, Pope Francis has detailed plans for three potential trips in the upcoming year: to Argentina, Belgium for the 600th anniversary of the University of Louvain, and to Polynesia. Of these, the visit to Belgium is confirmed.

Polynesia emerges as an unexpected destination , having never been mentioned by the Pope previously, in contrast to his expressed interest in visiting Papua New Guinea. A trip incorporating Thailand was also under consideration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belgium, on the other hand, is a definitive stop . With preliminary announcements emanating from Brussels, the visit is slated for September, implying that a journey to Polynesia would likely be scheduled for the summer.

Meanwhile, Argentina might feature in the Pope's itinerary in the early months of the year . A notable occasion is the rescheduled canonization of Mamma Antula, Argentina's Spiritual Mother, now set for February 11 instead of May. While canonizations are typically held in Rome and presided over by the Pope, there is a possibility that Pope Francis may exceptionally conduct this ceremony in Buenos Aires. February or March are being considered as probable for this potential visit to Argentina.

The earlier speculation of a trip to Kosovo appears to have been dismissed. Kosovo, a state not recognized by the Holy See, was mentioned by the Pope in an interview with Vida Nueva prior to his journey to Mongolia.

An additional, highly symbolic visit has been proposed: Pope Francis has received an invitation to visit Vietnam, extended by the country's Government Committee for Religious Affairs . The invitation, sent to Santa Marta, encourages the Pope to witness firsthand the socio-economic progress and religious life in this Southeast Asian nation.

As per the committee, Vietnam's President Thuong has conveyed his and the country's seven million Catholics' eagerness to welcome the Pope. He noted the profound impression left by his encounters with Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin during his Vatican visit in July.

Significantly, on December 23, the Holy See appointed its first resident representative in Hanoi, marking a crucial step towards establishing full diplomatic relations.

Nonetheless, the number of Pope Francis's trips is expected to be no more than three.

This article was originally published on ACI Stampa. 

Andrea Gagliarducci is an Italian journalist for Catholic News Agency and Vatican analyst for ACI Stampa. He is a contributor to the National Catholic Register.

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Benedict backed me up on rights for LGBTQ couples, Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis found an ally in his predecessor Benedict XVI when he spoke in favor of civil partnerships for same-sex couples, the pontiff said in a new book due out in Spain.

The work is set for publication on Wednesday, but its contents were shared in advance on Tuesday with several media, including Reuters.

Francis has confirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to LGBTQ marriages, but has repeatedly said same-sex couples have a right to be protected by civil union laws.

A greater openness towards the LGBTQ community has been one of the hallmarks of his 11-year papacy, but the more conservative Benedict was not known as sympathetic to the cause.

Nevertheless, Francis said Benedict stood up for him before an unnamed group of cardinals who had gone to him to complain about the pope’s “heresies” on civil partnerships.

“They showed up at his home to practically put me on trial and they accused me in front of him of backing same-sex marriage,” Francis said.

Benedict XVI listened, “helped them distinguish things” and told them that what Francis had said was “no heresy,” the pope said.

Francis made the revelation in the Spanish-language book “Pope Francis. The Successor: My memories of Benedict XVI,” based on interviews with journalist Javier Martinez-Brocal.

Already in February 2023, the pope had said that Benedict once dismissed a complaint about what Francis said on civil unions, but offered fewer details.

Pope Francis meets with relatives of hostages held by Hamas

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis met on Monday morning, with relatives of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza since October 7th.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the private encounter took place in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

During the families of the hostages' stay in Italy, there are also meetings scheduled with various representatives of political institutions, and with members of the Jewish community.

This marks the second meeting of the Pope with relatives of Israeli hostages.

In November 2023, the Holy Father met with a group of hostage relatives in his residence, as well as with another group, separately, of relatives of those suffering from the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The delegation that came to Rome is composed of Bezalel Shnaider, aunt of Shiri Bibas, the woman taken away with her two children, 4-year-old Ariel and 9-month-old Kfir (the youngest of the hostages who celebrated his first year of life in captivity); Gal Dalal, survivor of the Supernova Festival and brother of 22-year-old Guy, kidnapped during the rave.

Also present was a mother, Merav Gilboa Dalal; Naama Miran, sister of 46-year-old Omri Miran, kidnapped in the Nir Oz kibbutz; Lee Yam Berger, twin sister of Agam, a 19-year-old soldier, kidnapped at the Nahal Oz military base; cousin Sarah Waxman Bakshi; and Alon and Amit Nimrodi, father and sister of Tamir, a soldier taken by Hamas from the Cogat base.

The Holy Father has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to facilitate access to humanitarian aid, for negotiations to end the war, and for the release of the hostages.

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• pope us visit

PHOTOS: Past papal visits to New York City

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The arrival of Pope Francis marks the fifth time a pope has paid a visit to New York City.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: APRIL 2008 Pope Benedict XVI arrived in 2008 and addressed the United Nations. He later visited St. Joseph's Parish on the Upper East Side in Yorkville, and then became the first pope to visit ground zero.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with a New York City firefighter after praying and lighting a candle at ground zero. The pope met with survivors and relatives of victims of the World Trade Center attacks as well as first responders at the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, Pool)

Pope Benedict XVI visits the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. The pope offered blessings to survivors and family members of those killed in the attack. (AP Photo/Todd Heisler, Pool)

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, greets Pope Benedict XVI as he visits the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. At center is Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York. (AP Photo/Todd Heisler, Pool)

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, left, poses with Pope Benedict XVI, center, and Rabbi Arthur Schneier at the Park East Synagogue in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York City Fire Department Chief Salvatore Cassano kisses the hand of Pope Benedict XVI as he visits the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The Pope offered blessings to survivors and family members of those killed in the attack. (AP Photo/Todd Heisler, Pool)

POPE JOHN PAUL II: OCTOBER 1995 In 1995, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Giants Stadium and the Aqueduct Race Track, addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations, and visited St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie. There was also a Mass before 125,000 people in Central Park, in which he spoke English and Spanish.

John Cardinal O'Connor speaks to Pope John Paul II inside St. Patrick's Cathedral. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Pope John Paul II waves to the crowd from the Popemobile as he arrives at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

President Bill Clinton greets Pope John Paul II during ceremonies on their arrival at Newark International Airport in Newark. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Pope John Paul II addresses the 50th session of the United Nations Thursday Oct. 5, 1995. Appealing to the conscience of humanity,'' the pope urged rich nations to offer more help to the world's poor but told developing countries they won't deserve it unless they respect democracy. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, pool)

Pope John Paul II waves at the end of Mass at Central Park in New York.

Pope John Paul II waves from the steps of St. Patrick's Cathderal as he arrives to recite the Rosary and deliver a brief address in New York. (AP Photo/POOL, Tim Clary)

Pope John Paul II, blesses wheel-chair bound Steven Norton, 9, who suffers from AIDS, as he walks down the aisle of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Norton is accompanied by his adoptive mother Patricia Norton, left, and family friend Jeff Conway, who also suffers from AIDS.

POPE JOHN PAUL II: OCTOBER 1979 In his first New York visit in 1979, Pope John Paul II visited St. Charles Borromeo Church of Harlem, held a prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and attended a youth rally at Madison Square Garden. He also held a Mass for 80,000 people at Yankee Stadium.

Pope John Paul II gestures to the crowd at New York's Shea Stadium after his arrival. Thousands waited under a heavy rain for the Pontiff, whose arrival brought with it, the sun. (AP Photo)

Pope John Paul II makes farewell address at Shea Stadium. (AP Photo/Cameron Bloch)

Pope John Paul II, center, receives gifts from youngsters as student Monica Johnson, 17, holds a t-shirt, presented to him at presentation of symbolic gifts to Pope at New York's Madison Square Garden. The supreme Pontiff received gifts including the t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a guitar. (AP Photo)

Pope John Paul II faces the crowd in front of, and surrounding, St. Patrick's Cathedral after his arrival from the United Nations. (AP Photo)

Pope John Paul II is shown on arrival at the United Nations, being greeted by Kurt Waldheim, Secretary General of U.N.. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)

POPE PAUL VI: OCTOBER 1965 In 1965, Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit the United States. He prayed at St. Patrick's Cathedral, visited the United Nations General Assembly and the Vatican exhibit at the New York World's Fair before celebrating Mass at Yankee Stadium.

Pope Paul VI raises his hands to give his final blessing to more than 90,000 persons who jammed New York's Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. (AP Photo)

Pope Paul VI, left, sits in front of the rostrum before addressing the United Nations General Assembly. (AP Photo)

Pope Paul VI delivers an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Pope made a plea for peace. (AP Photo)

Pope Paul VI and President Lyndon B. Johnson are seen during the Pontiff's visit to New York. (AP Photo/File)

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• POPE US VISIT
• WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2015
• POPE FRANCIS

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