NEW YORK CITY — Pope Francis will stop in New York City on his first trip to the United States this fall, the pontiff told reporters on a flight back to Rome from the Philippines on Monday.
Pope Francis' itinerary in the city has yet to be finalized but will include an appearance at the United Nations headquarters, he said.
It could also include a mass at Madison Square Garden and a visit to Ground Zero, according to NBC News.
Pope Francis will also visit Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia where he will attend the World Meeting of Families, set to take place Sept. 22 through Sept. 26.
The Pontiff is likely to first arrive in Washington, D.C. on the evening of Sept. 22 and to visit the White House and celebrate a mass at Washington's Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, according to a Catholic News Agency (CNA) article.
The Pope would then leave for New York City on Sept. 24, CNA wrote.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city was eager to welcome the Pope.
"Pope Francis is the leading global voice on issues of social justice and income inequality, and New Yorkers from all backgrounds will be tremendously humbled and honored to hear his message right here in our city later this year," the Mayor wrote in a statement on Monday.
