APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
TO CUBA, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND VISIT TO THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERS
on the occasion of his participation at the Eighth World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia

(19-28 SEPTEMBER 2015)

Saturday, September 19

10:15 am Departure from Rome’s Fiumicino airport for Havana.

4:05 pm Arrival ceremony at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport. Speech by the Pope.

Sunday, September 20

9:00 am Mass in Havana’s Revolution Square. Homily by the Pope. Recitation of the Angelus.

4:00 pm Courtesy visit with Cuba’s President Raul Castro in Havana’s Palace of the Revolution.

5:15 pm Celebration of vespers with priests, religious and seminarians in Havana’s cathedral. Homily by the Pope.

6:30 pm Greeting to young people at the Father Felix Varela cultural center in Havana. Remarks by the Pope.

Monday, September 21

8:00 am Departure by air for Holguin, Cuba.

9:20 am Arrival at Holguin’s Frank Pais International Airport.

10:30 am Mass in Holguin’s Revolution Square. Homily by the Pope.

3:45 pm Blessing of the city of Holguin from Cross Hill (Loma de la Cruz).

4:40 pm Departure by air for Santiago de Cuba.

5:30 pm Arrival at Santiago de Cuba’s Antonio Maceo International Airport.

7:00 pm Meeting with bishops at the seminary of St. Basil the Great in El Cobre.

7:45 pm Prayer to Our Lady of Charity with bishops and the papal entourage in the Minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.

Tuesday, September 22

8:00 am Mass in the Minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre. Homily by the Pope.

11:00 am Meeting with families in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Santiago de Cuba. Speech by the Pope. Blessing of the city from the outside of the cathedral.

12:15 pm Farewell ceremony at Santiago de Cuba’s International Airport.

12:30 pm Departure for Washington, United States.

4:00 pm Arrival at Andrews Air Force Base. Official welcome.

Wednesday, September 23

9:15 am Meeting with President Obama at the White House.

11:00 am Papal Parade along the Ellipse and the National Mall (time approximate)

11:30 am Midday Prayer with the bishops of the United States, St. Matthew’s Cathedral.

4:15 pm Mass of Canonization of Junipero Serra, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Thursday, September 24

9:20 am Address to Joint Session of the United States Congress.

11:15 am Visit to the Charitable Center of St. Patrick Parish and meeting with the homeless in Washington, D.C.

4:00 pm Depart by plane for New York.

5:00 pm Arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

6:45 pm Evening Prayer (Vespers) at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Friday, September 25

8.30 am Visit to the United Nations and Address to the United Nations General Assembly.

11:30 am Inter-religious encounter at the Ground Zero memorial.

4:00 pm Visit to "Our Lady, Queen of the Angels" School and meeting with children and families of migrants.

5:00 pm Procession through Central Park (time approximate).

6:00 pm Mass at Madison Square Garden.

Saturday, September 26

8:40 am Departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport.

9:30 am Arrival at Atlantic Aviation, Philadelphia.

10:30 am Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia.

4:45 pm Meeting for Religious Freedom with the Hispanic community and other immigrants at the Independence Mall in Philadelphia.

7:30 pm Visit to the Festival of Families and Prayer Vigil, Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Sunday, September 27

9:15 am Meeting with bishops at at St. Martin’s Chapel, St Charles Borromeo Seminary.

11:00 am Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility.

4:00 pm Mass for the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

7:00 pm Visit with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families, Atlantic Aviation.

8:00 pm Departure for Rome.