![Vatican: Pope Francis' Weekly General Audience Vatican Pope Francis'](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/pope-francis8.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
Pope Francis’ schedule is almost always a political document. Everyone wants a piece of it, especially when it comes to his upcoming September trip to the U.S. The White House and Congress, not to mention outside groups, have been lobbying for months to try to influence his agenda. On Tuesday morning, the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released the official schedule for the trip. Predictably, it is packed. Pope Francis will visit Cuba and the U.S. from Sept. 19-28—four days in Cuba, five in the U.S—and give a total of 26 addresses, 18 of them in the U.S.
The world has known the big-ticket items for months—a meeting with President Obama, an address to the U.S. Congress, a talk at the United Nations, and a mass in Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. But the other events hold just as powerful a message. The logistics are often the key to understanding the entire agenda—where Pope Francis is, who he is with, where he is coming from and where he is going next say as much about his message as his words themselves.
This schedule shows the Pope’s diplomatic acumen from the start. Pope Francis comes to Washington only after giving first dibs to Cuba, an island that the U.S. had blackballed economically until he intervened in December. And, Pope Francis will fly directly from there to Joint Base Andrews outside Washington DC, symbolizing the new link he helped to forge between the two nations.
Once he has arrived in the U.S., Pope Francis establishes a pattern—he links political events with pastoral ones. His first full day in Washington, the Pope will meet with Obama at the White House, and then leave to hold midday prayer with the U.S. bishops at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. It is tradition for the pope to gather the bishops when he visits, and leaving the White House for a church shows the value Francis places on the work of the church and its leaders.
The next day, immediately after speaking to the U.S. Congress, he will visit Catholic Charities, the social outreach ministry of the Archdiocese of Washington, which does extensive work to serve the area’s poor, homeless and immigrant communities. The juxtaposition is a not-so-subtle hint about who Pope Francis hopes political leaders will be—politicians who serve the poor, instead of staying isolated in the halls of power.
The Most Surprising Photos of Pope Francis
![Pope Francis Pope Francis](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/pope-francis14.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![APTOPIX US Pope Francis Pope Francis US visit](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pope-francis-us-visit-statue-liberty.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![US-VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE Pope Francis US Visit mannequin](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pope-francis-us-visit-mannequin.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Kids draw on coloring sheet with image of Pope Francis as they wait for him to arrive on a visit to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington Pope Francis US Visit](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pope-francis-us-visit.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![APTOPIX Pope Philadelphia World Meeting Pope Francis US Visit nuns selfie](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pope-francis-us-visit-nuns-selfie.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![VATICAN-POPE-AUDIENCE-BIRTHDAY Pope Francis Birthday](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/pope-francis-birthday.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Francis Francis](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope22.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Vatican Benedict Vatican Benedict](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope21.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![POPE: EASTER HOLY MASS POPE: EASTER HOLY MASS](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BRASIL-POPE-FRANCIS-MASK BRASIL-POPE-FRANCIS-MASK](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope16.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Italy - Religion - Pope Francis leads Worldwide Eucharistic Adoration Italy - Religion - Pope Francis leads Worldwide Eucharistic Adoration](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope31.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Vatican Pope Vatican Pope](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope33.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis attends the opening of the Pastoral Convention of the Diocese of Rome at the Vatican Pope Francis attends the opening of the Pastoral Convention of the Diocese of Rome at the Vatican](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope3.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis waves as he leaves Guanabara Palace where he attended a welcoming ceremony in Rio de Janeiro Pope Francis waves as he leaves Guanabara Palace where he attended a welcoming ceremony in Rio de Janeiro](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope4.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope32.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis Pope Francis](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Catholic faithful with sticker bearing an image of Pope Francis on his forehead looks on while waiting for the Pope to arrive in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro Catholic faithful with sticker bearing an image of Pope Francis on his forehead looks on while waiting for the Pope to arrive in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope5.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis is projected on screens at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro Pope Francis is projected on screens at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope26.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis is pictured inside his plane before departing from Rio de Janeiro at Galeao Air Base Pope Francis is pictured inside his plane before departing from Rio de Janeiro at Galeao Air Base](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope6.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Brazil Pope Photo Gallery Brazil Pope Photo Gallery](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope23.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis in Brazil Pope Francis in Brazil](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope35.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![POPE FRANCIS MEETS PIACENZA PILGRIMS POPE FRANCIS MEETS PIACENZA PILGRIMS](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Vatican, St. Peter's Square - General Audience of Pope Francis Vatican, St. Peter's Square - General Audience of Pope Francis](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope34.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis wears a firefighter helmet as he arrives to lead his Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican Pope Francis wears a firefighter helmet as he arrives to lead his Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope7.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis is silhouetted against window light at the end of a meeting at the Vatican Pope Francis is silhouetted against window light at the end of a meeting at the Vatican](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope8.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis photographed in the Vatican, Rome, Italy in November-December, 2013. Pope Francis was chosen as TIME Magazine's 2013 Person of the Year. Pope Francis photographed in the Vatican, Rome, Italy in November-December, 2013. Pope Francis was chosen as TIME Magazine's 2013 Person of the Year.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope1.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Vatican Russia Vatican Russia](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope20.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![APTOPIX Vatican Cold Pope APTOPIX Vatican Cold Pope](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope18.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis' General Audience Pope Francis' General Audience](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope12.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis - General Audience - Nov. 20 2013 Pope Francis - General Audience - Nov. 20 2013](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope14.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![ITALY-VATICAN-POPE-VISIT-EPIPHANY ITALY-VATICAN-POPE-VISIT-EPIPHANY](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope24.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Pope Francis reacts as he leads a Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican Pope Francis reacts as he leads a Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope15.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A dove released during an Angelus prayer conducted by Pope Francis, is attacked by a seagull at the Vatican A dove released during an Angelus prayer conducted by Pope Francis, is attacked by a seagull at the Vatican](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope9.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A scarf thrown by faithful is seen on the face of Pope Francis during the general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican A scarf thrown by faithful is seen on the face of Pope Francis during the general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Italy - Feature - First Pope Francis graffiti murales appears in Rome Italy - Feature - First Pope Francis graffiti murales appears in Rome](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope28.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-AUDIENCE TOPSHOTS-VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-AUDIENCE](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope27.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Obama - Pope Francis Obama - Pope Francis](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope25.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Italy - H.M Queen Elisabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh meets Pope Francis Italy - H.M Queen Elisabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh meets Pope Francis](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope171.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![ITALY-VATICAN-POPE-MAUNDY--THURSDAY ITALY-VATICAN-POPE-MAUNDY--THURSDAY](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope30.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![ITALY-VATICAN-POPE-MAUNDY--THURSDAY ITALY-VATICAN-POPE-MAUNDY--THURSDAY](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope29.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Vatican Pope Vatican Pope](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/surprising_pope19.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
The pattern continues in New York, where Pope Francis will begin his time with an evening prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral before addressing the U.N. the next morning. From there, he will—again—go directly to an interfaith service at the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center. It is another statement about the importance of solidarity, especially between Christians and Muslims in the face of global extremism. Pope Benedict visited Ground Zero to pray in 2008, but Francis is taking it to another level with an interfaith focus. He will then visit a Catholic elementary school in East Harlem, and celebrate mass in Madison Square Garden.
When Pope Francis goes to Philadelphia, the pattern shifts, but only slightly. The World Meeting of Families, a Catholic gathering of families every three years hosted this time in Philadelphia, was from the start the reason for his trip to the U.S. Here, Francis adds specifically political moments to a primarily pastoral visit. In addition to celebrating mass at the Cathedral Basilica, visiting the Festival of Families, and meeting the bishops at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Pope Francis will visit Philadelphia’s largest prison, the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. What Pope Francis will do there remains to be seen, but his mere presence will both highlight high incarceration rates in the U.S. and make it hard to ignore the Catholic Church’s opposition to the death penalty.
The whole trip concludes with an outdoor mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, where Pope John Paul II celebrated mass in 1979.
Francis’ schedule is like a liturgy. It is a roadmap to guide the desired focus of, and communal participation in, his message. And the places he has chosen—Catholic Charities in Washington, a school in Harlem, an interfaith service at Ground Zero, a prison in Philadelphia—will likely end up saying as much about what Francis’ focus is as anything else.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race , Endorses Harris to Replace Him
- Why Biden Dropped Out
- The Chaos and Commotion of the RNC in Photos
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Stop Feeling Bad About Sweating
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Contact us at letters@time.com