Pope Francis' three-city tour of the United States, his first since winning the papacy over two years ago, begins with a late-Tuesday afternoon landing just outside the nation's capital and ends with a large celebration in the City of Brotherly Love on Sunday.
Francis' jam-packed schedule includes an early Wednesday morning meeting with President Obama, a speech to Congress, Mass at Madison Square Garden, service at the 9/11 Memorial, and a visit to Philadelphia's Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
The pope's tentative schedule is below, as outlined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. All time are Eastern.
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015: Washington
4p.m: Pope Francis arrives from Cuba, landing at Joint Base Andrews.
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015: Washington
9:15 a.m: Meets President Barack Obama at a White House welcome ceremony.
11:00 a.m. Papal parade along the Ellipse and the National Mall (time approximate)
11:30 a.m: Midday Prayer with U.S. bishops at Saint Matthew's Cathedral.
4:15 p.m: Junipero Serra Canonization Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015: Washington/ New York City
9:20 a.m: Address to Joint Meeting of U.S. Congress
11:15 a.m: Visit to St. Patrick's Catholic Church and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
4 p.m: Departure for New York from Joint Base Andrews
5 p.m: Arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport
6:45 p.m: Evening prayer (Vespers) at St. Patrick's Cathedral
Friday, Sept. 25, 2015: New York City
8:30 a.m: Address to the United Nations General-Assembly
11:30 a.m: Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center
4 p.m: Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School, East Harlem
5 p.m: Papal motorcade through Central Park (time approximate)
6 p.m: Mass at Madison Square Garden
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015: New York City/ Philadelphia
8:40 a.m: Departs for Philadelphia from John F. Kennedy International Airport
9:30 a.m: Arrives at Atlantic Aviation hangar
10:30 a.m: Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and Paul
4:45 p.m: Visit to Independence Mall
7:30 p.m: Visit to Festival of Families at Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015: Philadelphia
9:15 a.m: Meeting with bishops at St. Martin's Chapel, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
11 a.m: Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility
4 p.m: Papal Mass for conclusion of the World Meeting of Families
7 p.m: Visits with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families at Atlantic Aviation
8 p.m: Departs for return to Rome