Pope Francis has confirmed he will travel to the U.S. next year to attend a gathering in the city of Brotherly Love, marking his first visit to the U.S. as pontiff.
“I wish to confirm according to the wishes of the Lord, that in September of 2015, I will go to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families,” Pope Francis said Monday, according to Vatican Radio. “Thank you for your prayers with which you accompany my service to the Church. Bless you from my heart.”
The World Meeting of Families is a triennial gathering and claims to be the world’s largest meeting of Catholic families. It will be held Sept. 22-27, with the Pope set to attend the final weekend events. During his visit, the pope will host a mass at the close of the event in Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Details of his visit, however, have not been finalized.
“A hallmark of his papacy has been a keen focus on the many challenges that families face today globally,” said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. “I believe that the presence of the Holy Father will bring all of us –Catholic and non-Catholic alike – together in tremendously powerful, unifying and healing ways.”
Pope Francis hinted he’d be traveling to the U.S. in 2015 in August, but it had yet to be confirmed.
The Most Surprising Photos of Pope Francis
The wind lifts Pope Francis' mantle as he delivers his speech in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, on Sept. 26, 2015.Tony Gentile—APPope Francis looks at the Statue of Liberty from the window of a helicopter on his way to the John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York City, on Sept. 26, 2015.L'Osservatore Romano/APA Pope Francis mannequin rides around in a car in Times Square as New York City waits for the arrival of the Pope to the city, on Sept. 24, 2015.Timothy A. Clary—AFP/Getty ImagesKaydn Dorsey, 4, and Lionel Perkins, 4, draw on a coloring sheet bearing the image of Pope Francis as they wait for him to arrive on a visit to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2015.David Goldman—ReutersNuns with the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy in Pleasantville, N.J., pose for a selfie with a cutout of Pope Francis, at the World Meeting of Families conference, in Philadelphia, on Sept. 22, 2015. Matt Rourke—APPope Francis blows out the candles of a birthday cake to celebrate his 78th birthday during a general audience at the Vatican on Dec. 17, 2014. Osservatore Romano/AFP/Getty ImagesPaying the bill at Rome's Domus Internationalis Paulus VI hotel, where Pope Francis stayed as a cardinal before entering the conclave and being elected pope.Osservatore Romano/APWelcoming Pope emeritus Benedict XVI as he returns to the Vatican from the pontifical summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.Osservatore Romano/APHolding a disabled child after celebrating Easter Mass.Alessandro di Meo—ANSA/Zuma Press Pope Francis masks in a factory in Brazil, where the Pontiff took his first overseas trip. Christophe Simon—AFP/Getty ImagesLeading the Worldwide Eucharistic adoration at the Vatican.Alessandra Benedetti—CorbisA gust of wind blows the pope's mantle. Alessandra Tarantino—APAttending the opening of the Pastoral Convention of the Diocese of Rome. Stefano Rellandini—ReutersLeaving a welcoming ceremony at Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro. Ricardo Moraes—ReutersGreeting the weekly General Audience. Stefano Rellandini—ReutersPointing to the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida from the balcony of the Aparecida basilica in Brazil. Domenico Stinellis—APA Catholic faithful in Brazil bears a sticker of Pope Francis on his forehead. Ueslei Marcelino—ReutersImages of Pope Francis projected onto screens at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Paulo Whitaker— ReutersDeparting Rio de Janeiro. Ricardo Moraes—ReutersA stray dog walks across the stage near the altar where Pope Francis celebrates the World Youth Day's closing Mass on the Copacabana beachfront. Victor R. Caivano—APListening to confessions of young people in a park in Rio de Janeiro. L'Osservatore Romano—EPAPosing with youths in Saint Peter's Basilica.L'Osservatore Romano—EPAGreeting the faithful on a rainy day during the General Audience.Fabio Frustaci—Eidon Press/Zuma PressArriving to lead his General Audience in a firefighter's helmet.Stefano Rellandini—ReutersA quiet moment after meeting with Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the Vatican.Max Rossi—ReutersMarking the 110th anniversary UNITALSI, a Catholic organization dedicated to helping the sick. Francesco Zizola—NOOR for TIMEA private Audience with Russian President Vladimir Putin. L'Osservatore Romano/APKeeping warm during a General Audience. Alessandra Tarantino—APComforting a disfigured man at the end of his General Audience. Claudio Peri—EPABlessing a sick man with deformed facial features. Evandro Inetti—Zuma PressVisiting the parish of the Sant'Alfonso Maria de Liguori during the Epiphany day.L'Osservatore Romano—AFP/Getty ImagesReacting to devotees at a weekly General Audience.Alessandro Bianchi—ReutersA seagull attacks a dove released during a prayer conducted by Pope Francis.
Alessandro Bianchi—ReutersA scarf is tossed at Pope Francis by a faithful. Tony Gentile—ReutersItalian artist Mauro Pallotta's superhero rendering of Pope Francis in a street near St. Peter's Basilica.Alessandra Benedetti—CorbisBlowing a kiss to pilgrims gathered at Saint Peter's Square. Vincenzo Pinto—AFP/Getty ImagesMeeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in the private library of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.Vatican Pool/Contrasto/ReduxWith Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the Vatican.Alessandra Benedetti—Vatican Pool/CorbisA wind gust lifts Pope Francis's mantle as he arrives at the traditional Washing of the Feet during Holy Thursday. Alberto Pizzoli—AFP/Getty ImagesKissing a man's at the traditional Washing of the Feet. Alberto Pizzoli—AFP/Getty ImagesVisitors take photos of Pope Francis as he speaks from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Michael Sohn—AP
