Pope Francis is making his first trip to the U.S. next year; it will be the first time since he was elected as the head of the Catholic church in March 2013.
"I wish to confirm according to the wishes of the Lord, that in September of 2015, I will go to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families," Pope Francis told a gathering of religious leaders in Rome at the Humanum Colloquium.
The World Meeting of Families is the world's largest Catholic gathering. The meeting celebrates families, love and life, and is held every three years. The celebration will go from Sept. 22 to Sept. 27, 2015. The pope plans to attend all three days in Philadelphia.
During his Philadelphia visit, Pope Francis is expected to give a public mass where an estimate of up to 2 million people may attend, NBC Philadelphia reported.
Philadelphia is excited to have Pope Francis visit the historical city. This will be the first time a pope leading the Catholic church visited Philadelphia since October 1979 when John Paul II delivered a mass along the Parkway.
"We look forward to Pope Francis' arrival in Philadelphia next September and we will welcome him joyfully with open arms and prayerful hearts," Archbishop Charles Chaput, the leader of Philadelphia's Archdiocese, said in a prepared statement.
