Pope Francis' much-anticipated trip to the United States begins on Tuesday evening when the pontiff arrives in Washington, D.C., to start an action-backed schedule that will take him from the nation's capital to New York City and Philadelphia.
Along the way, Pope Francis will meet with heads of state, fellow faith leaders, the poor, immigrants and a number of other groups. He'll also preside over some fascinating events that are sure to attract massive crowds and make headlines in the process.
Pope Francis smiles as he leaves at the end of a mass concluding the 6th Asian Youth Day in Haemi, South Korea, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Here are six of the inspiring and intriguing things that Pope Francis will be doing during his six-day trip to the U.S.:
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Pope Francis will be presiding over the first-ever canonization on U.S. soil, which is slated to be held at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday at 4:15 p.m.
The pontiff will canonize Fr. Junipero Serra, a Franciscan priest who was one of the first immigrants in California. Serra, a Spanish-born missionary, went to California to help spread Christianity to the native peoples there, setting up nine missions throughout the state.
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It's no secret that Pope Francis and President BarackObama have some ideological disagreements, though there are also some areas of common ground, as reported by TheBlaze's Fred Lucas.
The pontiff will be meeting with Obama at the White House on Wednesday morning around 9:15 a.m., and will become the first pope ever to address a joint session of Congress on Thursday morning around 9:20 a.m.
Congress has been preparing for the historic address, with House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid sending a letter to members of Congress that asks politicians to avoid shaking hands with the pope when he enters the room, Reuters reported.
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Pope Francis won't just be rubbing elbows with powerful politicos while he's in the U.S., as the pontiff will also be spending time with the homeless, immigrants and inmates.
The pope will meet with hundreds of poor, immigrant and homeless individuals at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. on September 24 at 11:15 a.m. — individuals who are clients of the Catholic Charities of the archdiocese of Washington, NPR reported.
Pope Francis smiles at the end of a meeting with young people entitled 'Throw your nets' in Largo Carlo Felice in Cagliari on September 22, 2013. (AFP/Getty Images)
The pontiff is also scheduled to have lunch with some poor and homeless residents in Washington, D.C. that same day.
"Pope Francis is coming here straight from Capitol Hill," Erik Salmi, director of communications with Catholic Charities, told WTTG-TV. "He's going to address some of the most powerful leaders in the world, and then he's going to come visit some of the most vulnerable citizens in D.C."
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The pontiff also has plans to hold a procession through Central Park in New York City on September 25. There were apparently 80,000 tickets given out for the event, which is scheduled to begin around 5 p.m. before he holds Mass at Madison Square Garden.
The procession will span 12-blocks along Central Park's West Drive; it will follow other events in New York city, including an address before the United Nations and a visit to the September 11 museum, according to the Associated Press.
New Yorkers lucky enough to secure one of the 80,000 tickets for the procession will have the opportunity to see Pope Francis first-hand as his popemobile takes him through the popular park.
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Inmates in the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will have the opportunity to potentially interact with Pope Francis when he visits the prison at 11 a.m. on September 27.
Around 100 inmates who have had good behavior will be selected to join their families in meeting the pontiff.
US President BarackObama, left, reacts as he meets with Pope Francis, center, during their exchange of gifts, Thursday, March 27, 2014 at the Vatican. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
In fact, numerous inmates also came together to create a special chair for Pope Francis to sit in during his visit — an act that riled atheist activists who believe that it's an inappropriate intermingling of church and state.
The visit to the prison should come as no surprise, considering that Pope Francis has met with inmates in the past. In 2013, the pontiff sparked debate after he washed and kissed the feet of 12 juvenile inmates — including two women — in a ritual that calls for only men to participate.
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See Pope Francis' entire U.S. schedule here.
