The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee is keeping a close eye on Pope Francis ahead of his visit to the United States later this month, having already "disrupted one particular case" of a security threat against the pope.
"The pope is a very ... passionate man. He likes to get out with the people and with that comes a large security risk. We are monitoring very closely threats against the pope as he comes into the United States," Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairperson of the committee, said on ABC's "This Week."
McCaul did not reveal any other details regarding the thwarted security threat. However, he did say he was briefed about it by the Secret Service, which also declined to explain further about the meeting between the two because it was confidential.
The pope is expected to arrive in the U.S. on Sept. 22, and during his six-day trip he will make stops in Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia, according to The Huffington Post.
The pope will speak before a joint meeting between of the Senate and the House on the final day of his visit in Washington. He will then head to New York to speak at the United Nations, take part in a parade through Central Park and lead a mass at Madison Square Garden.
The pope will then spend his last two days in the country in Philadelphia, where he will participate in scheduled events such as visiting Independence Mall, according to Fox News.
