Archdiocese of Washington Announces Pope Francis’s Confirmed Washington, D.C., Schedule for Apostolic Visit to the United States

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, addresses media representatives at the news conference announcing the official schedule of Pope Fransis’s visit to Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – The Vatican today announced the confirmed schedule for Pope Francis’s apostolic visit to the United States this September, which includes stops in Washington, D.C., New York, and Philadelphia. This morning, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, met with members of the media at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington to discuss the Washington, D.C. itinerary for the Holy Father’s visit.

Also present at the media event were Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Frank G. Persico, vice president for university relations for The Catholic University of America; Monsignor W. Ronald Jameson, rector of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle; Monsignor John Enzler, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington; Monsignor Salvatore A. Criscuolo, pastor of Saint Patrick’s Church in Washington; and representatives from the apostolic nunciature.

“Pope Francis has captured the imagination of people around the world and touched the hearts of all of us,” said Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington and University chancellor. “We look forward to our Holy Father’s visit here as it will be a time of God’s grace at work among us in a unique way and an opportunity to be confirmed more fully as missionary disciples of our Lord.”

Pope Francis’ Washington schedule, as confirmed by the Holy See this morning, includes:

Tuesday, September 22, 2015:

• Pope Francis will begin his pastoral visit to the United States with his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in the afternoon. No other public events that day.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015:

• Welcoming ceremony at the White House followed by a private meeting with President Obama.
• Mid-day prayer with the bishops of the United States at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.
• Mass in the afternoon on the East Portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the University Mall at The Catholic University of America. During the Mass, the pope will canonize Blessed Junípero Serra.

Thursday, September 24, 2015:

• Address joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in the morning.
• Visit St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in D.C. and meet with several clients of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington in late morning.
• Blessing and brief remarks to the clients gathered at lunchtime for the St. Maria Meals Program of the Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Washington.
• Depart for New York City from Andrews Air Force Base

“The Catholic University of America community is overjoyed to welcome Pope Francis to our campus during his first apostolic visit to the United States,” said John Garvey, president of Catholic University. “When the Holy Father celebrates his first public Mass in the United States on the stairs of the East Portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Sept. 23, 2015, he will look out over our beautiful campus, and the congregation attending the Mass will fill our University Mall. We are honored to participate in this historic event. It is an incredibly exciting time for the University as we prepare our campus—and ourselves—for Pope Francis’s visit.”

“We are truly delighted that Pope Francis is following in the footsteps of his predecessors Saint Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in visiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception during his apostolic visit to the United States,” said Monsignor. Walter R. Rossi, rector, Basilica of the National Shine of the Immaculate Conception. “We are honored that the Holy Father will celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and canonize Blessed Junípero Serra, the first-ever canonization to take place on American soil.”

The Archdiocese of Washington has a dedicated presence on the archdiocesan website, www.adw.org/papalvisit.org, to provide information about the Holy Father’s Washington visit. Planning is under way and details will be posted to this site as they are finalized. Media can find information at www.adw.org/popemedia. To receive email and text alerts, individuals may also sign up on the papal visit page to receive emails or text PopeinDC to 84576.

Pope Francis’s visit to the United States will include stops in New York City and Philadelphia; media are encouraged to contact the respective archdioceses for the itinerary for those cities.

The Archdiocese of Washington’s Twitter handle is @WashArchdiocese, and the hashtag for the papal visit is #PopeInDC.

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The Archdiocese of Washington is home to over 620,000 Catholics, 139 parishes and 95 Catholic schools, located in Washington, D.C., and five Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s.