Full schedule set for Pope's visit to US, Cuba
June 30, 2015
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The Vatican has released the full schedule for the September visit by Pope Francis to Cuba and the US.
The highlights of the papal trip will be an address to the UN on September 25 and a visit to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, where the Pope will preside at the closing Mass on September 27.
The Pope will leave Rome on Saturday morning, September 19, to fly to Havana. After an airport welcome ceremony, he will rest Saturday evening. On Sunday morning, September 20, he will celebrate Mass at the Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana. Later in the day he will meet with the country’s political leaders, then lead Vespers with priests and religious, and finally meeting young people.
On Monday, September 21, the Pope will travel to Holguin, in southeastern Cuba, where he will celebrate an outdoor Mass before continuing on to Santiago. There he will meet with the bishops of Cuba. He will end the day with the bishops in prayer at the shrine of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre.
Tuesday the Pope will celebrate Mass at the basilica of Our Lady of Cobre. Then after a meeting with families in Santiago, he will fly to Washington, DC. Again, beyond a short welcoming ceremony, there are no public events scheduled for the evening of the Pope’s arrival.
On Wednesday, September 23, the Pope will meet with President Barack Obama at the White House and deliver an address on the South Lawn. Then he will meet with the US bishops at St. Matthew’s cathedral. In the afternoon the Pontiff will celebrate Mass for the canonization of Blessed Junipero Serra.
On Thursday, September 24, the Holy Father will address the US Congress. He will then visit a homeless shelter before taking a flight to New York. That evening he will lead a Vespers service in St. Peter’s cathedral for priests and religious.
On Friday, September 25, Pope Francis will speak at UN headquarters in New York, then participate in an inter-religious service at the Ground Zero memorial. After a visit to a parish in Harlem and a meeting with the families of immigrants, he will celebrate Mass in Madison Square Garden.
On Saturday, September 26, the Pope will fly to Philadelphia and celebrate Mass in the city’s cathedral. Then he will join in a religious-freedom rally on Independence Mall.
On Sunday, September 27, the Pontiff will meet with the bishops who have gathered in Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. He will then visit with inmates at a correctional facility in Philadelphia. In the afternoon he will preside at the closing Mass for the World Meeting of Families.
After a meeting with organizers of the World Meeting of Families, the Pope will board a return flight for Rome on Sunday evening. He is scheduled to arrive in Rome on Monday morning.
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