WASHINGTON – Pope Francis is scheduled to make a stop in the United States later this year, and in a Monday news conference, the pontiff confirmed that D.C. is expected to be part of his trip.
The Catholic News Agency, which covers Vatican issues, quoted Pope Francis as saying Philadelphia, New York and D.C. are the three cities he plans to visit in September.
A committee is still working to finalize the details.
Meanwhile, a committee member outlined the tentative itinerary in an interview with the Catholic News Agency.
According to the proposed schedule, Pope Francis would arrive in D.C. Sept. 22 and leave on Sept. 24.
During that time, he plans to visit the White House, speak in front of Congress and celebrate mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
People who frequent the revered Northeast church are thrilled.
“It’s exciting of course,” said Joshua Revelle.
“It’s the pope, it’s the bishop who represents Rome and all of the world,” Diane Woods added.
A spokeswoman for the church says the news is exciting, but she would not offer further comment until the pope’s schedule is finalized and the Vatican confirms it.
Following D.C., the next planned stop for Pope Francis would be New York City.
He tentatively plans to speak to the United Nations, visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral and possibly stop at ground zero, the site of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
On Sept. 26, the pope would leave New York and arrive in Philadelphia for a global meeting on family issues.
He would then leave the U.S. on Sept. 27, according to the proposed itinerary.
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