Pope Francis Arrives in D.C. Ahead of New York Visit

By JUSTIN HEINZE and MARY ANN BARTON

Pope Francis touched down in the United States on Tuesday afternoon, landing in Maryland just before 4 p.m.

He arrived from Cuba, a nation which he had helped the United States repair ties with earlier this year.

His flight landed at Joint Base Andrews military facility and he was greeted by President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden as well as other officials including Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Schoolchildren from area schools stood on bleachers and a school band warmed up the crowd under overcast skies while they waited for the pope’s plane to land. Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington greeted the crowd.

RELATED:

• LIRR: Extra Trains For Pope Francis’ NYC Visit, But Avoid Traveling Into Manhattan if You Can
• Pope Traffic in NYC: A Complete Guide

A cheer went up from the assembled crowd as the pope’s plane touched down at 3:49 p.m. ET with, as MSNBC reported, 72 members of the media on board with Pope Francis on the Alitalia flight. As it taxied up to waiting steps, flags from the United States and Vatican City, attached to the front of the plane, fluttered in the breeze.

After a few days in the nation’s capital, including a meeting at the White House with several “controversial” guests, he will head to New York City on Thursday and then to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families on Saturday.

Here is his itinerary for his United States trip, plus everything else you need to know:

Tuesday, Sept. 22

• 4 p.m.: Arrive in Washington D.C., at the Joint Base Andrews military facility. This will be the Pope’s first stop for his visit to the United States before he travels on to New York and Philadelphia.

Wednesday, Sept. 23

• 9:15 a.m.: Pope Francis will arrive at the White House in Washington D.C. for a state arrival ceremony. (Watch it live here.) He will be the third pope to have ever visited the White House. The event will be held on the South Lawn of the White House with President Barack Obama and numerous other government officials in attendance.
• 11: a.m.: After his visit to the White House, the Pope will travel in a parade along 15th Street, Constitution Avenue and 17th Street, NW in the Popemobile. People wishing to see the pontiff are invited to line the streets around the Ellipse and the National Mall as he drives by in the Popemobile. The parade is free and open to the public on a first-come first-serve basis. However, spectators will need to pass through security, with gates opening for the Ellipse and the National Mall at 4 a.m. on Wednesday and closing at 10 a.m. No one will be admitted into the area after 10 a.m. No food or drink may be brought in from the outside, but concessions will be available for purchase. Once inside the perimeter, attendees will not be allowed to leave and re-enter until the Holy Father’s Popemobile parade is complete.
• 11:30 a.m.: Pope Francis will pray the midday prayer from the Liturgy of Hours, the daily form of prayer of the Catholic Church, with bishops from the United States at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. The church is located at 1725 Rhode Island Ave. NW.
• 4:15 p.m.: Pope Francis will celebrate Mass 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 Mass, Pope Francis will be canonizing Blessed Junipero Serra, a Spanish-born Franciscan Friar known for starting nine Spanish missions in California in the 1700s. The mass is only open to those with tickets; many streets surrounding the area will be closed.

Thursday, Sept. 24

• 10 a.m.: In the first-ever address by Pope to Congress, the Senate and House welcome the pope in a joint session.
• 11 a.m.: The Pope then makes a stop on the Capitol’s West Front, which overlooks the National Mall.
• 11:15 a.m.: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and Catholic Charities to host the Pope and 60 parishioners.
• 4 p.m. The Pope departs from Joint Base Andrews to New York
• 5 p.m: He arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport
• 6:45 p.m: Evening Prayer (Vespers) at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (open only to the Clergy of St. Patrick’s Cathedral)
  

Friday, Sept. 25

• 8:30 am: Visit to the United Nations and Address to the United Nations General Assembly (open only to UN officials)
• 11:30 am: Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center (ticket lottery closed)
• 4 p.m: Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School, East Harlem (open only to a select group of students and administrators from four Catholic schools in New York, and a gym full of Catholic Charities representatives)
• Procession through Central Park to follow visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School
• 6 p.m: Mass at Madison Square Garden (tickets reportedly very limited and not sold to the public; contact your own diocesan chancery office for more information)
  

Saturday, Sept. 26

• 8:40 a.m: Departure John F. Kennedy International Airport
  
• 9:39 a.m. Arrive at Philadelphia International Airport
• 10:30 a.m.: Mass at Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, a historic church that has stood since 1864. It is the largest brownstone structure in Philadelphia. (This mass is closed to the public.) Francis will then proceed to Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, where he will meet with bishops at the chapel there. (This event is also closed to the public.)
• 4:45 p.m.: Speech on religious freedom and immigration at Independence National Historical Park in Center City Philadelphia. (During the speech, ticket holders will be the only people permitted to go beyond designated security checkpoints. Click here to see the map.)
• 7:30 p.m. Appearance at the Festival of Families on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Sunday, Sept. 27

• 9:15 a.m.: Meeting with the bishops at the Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
• 11 a.m.: Francis will visit prisoners at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in North Philadelphia. Prisoners there have already prepared a special chair for Francis as a gift.
• 4 p.m.: The Pope will return to the Parkway to say the concluding mass for the 2015 World Meeting of Families. (Ticket holders will be the only people permitted to go beyond designated security checkpoints. Click here to see the map.)
• 8 p.m.: Return to Rome