Pope Francis Considering Trip To NYC, Philly, Washington In 2015
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Pope Francis has confirmed he wants to go to the United States next year and is considering a three-city trip in September 2015: Philadelphia for a family rally, Washington to address Congress and New York to speak at the United Nations.
Francis said there was a proposal to tag Mexico onto the trip so he could visit the Madonna of Guadalupe shrine beloved by Mexican Catholics, "but it's not sure.''
Francis made the comments Monday while returning from South Korea.
Asked about his 2015 travel plans, he said: "Next year I'd like to go to Philadelphia for the family meeting. I was invited by the president of the United States, by the American parliament and the secretary-general of the United Nations.''
He said "so maybe the three cities together.''
The popular Francis has yet to visit the U.S. as pope.
The most recent visit to Philadelphia by a pontiff was in 1979, when Pope John Paul II drew gigantic crowds as part of his first papal tour of the country.
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