Pope Francis will have a private one-on-one meeting with House Speaker John Boehner when the Pope visits Washington, D.C. this month.
After the Sept. 24 meeting, Congress leaders will join Boehner in welcoming the Pope before he addresses a joint session of Congress.
Boehner is one of the highest-ranking Catholic politicians in the U.S. aside from Vice President Joe Biden. As Politico reports, Boehner has been trying to get a pope to visit Capitol Hill for more than 20 years.
Pope Francis is expected to speak for about 20 minutes to Congress. Lots of planning has gone into his trip, reportedly including a recent practice run of his visit involving more than 100 people at the Capitol.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com