Pope Francis probably hasn’t even unpacked his bags yet after arriving home at the Vatican today from a weeklong trip to Asia, but he already is making plans for his trip this fall to the United States.
The pope told reporters aboard the papal plane he plans to speak at the United Nations in New York City, as well as to canonize Junipero Serro at at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., during his first trip to the country as pontiff.
He had confirmed late last year he would attend the end of the World Meeting of Families Sept. 22 to 27 in Philadelphia.
#Vatican source: Blessed Junipero Serra likely to be canonized from #WashingtonDC by @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/LCOHGxH5F2
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 18, 2015
On Sunday, a member of the organizing committee for the upcoming U.S. visit told the Catholic News Agency that Pope Francis likely will visit the U.S. for a full week, stopping first in Washington, D.C., and New York City.
.@Pontifex planning one week visit to US in September #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/LSfduC6BdR
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 18, 2015
The committee has proposed the pope arrive in Washington on the evening of Sept. 22, according to Archbishop Bernardito Auza. He then would celebrate Mass with a group of bishops, consecrated and religious men and women, seminarians and representatives from Catholic charities at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Archbishop Auza said.
And it appears the pope may take John Boehner up on his offer to address a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives, he said.
.@Pontifex planning official visit to @WhiteHouse and Mass at Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington pic.twitter.com/3Uk0Nv5HrN
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 18, 2015
#BREAKING: Highlight of @Pontifex visit to #US: speech to Congress #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/lvMSzfeTM7
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 18, 2015
#BREAKING: Papal visit by @Pontifex to U.N. would take up the entire morning of Sept. 25 #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/my2M9RtFpS
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 18, 2015
The committee then proposes Pope Francis leave for New York City on the afternoon of Sept. 24, where he would speak at the opening of the U.N.’s three-day Post-2015 Sustainable Development Summit and visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Other proposed stops include an “interethnic meeting,” a visit to Ground Zero and possibly a Mass at Madison Square Garden, according to the archbishop.
Still, Archbishop Auza told CNA, “Our plan is not to have a huge Mass outside of Philadelphia, because the focus will really be Philadelphia, because the Pope is going to the United States for the World Meeting of Families.” That’s where the pope is scheduled to take part in a prayer vigil on Sept. 26 and outdoor Mass on Sunday, Sept. 27.
#BREAKING: @Pontifex will visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in September #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/aLA4t9U1Jr
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 18, 2015
#PopeFrancis likely to celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden in September @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/2PzACw6zC7
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 18, 2015
#GroundZero likely on @Pontifex schedule for visit to #NewYork in September #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/HCVnaUzFuc
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 18, 2015
And, as the archbishop stressed to CNA, “These are just proposals.”
That means there’s still time for Pope Francis to work a stop in Chicago into his schedule.