- Pope Francis in the U.S.
Three Popes Have Visited the United States—Here's What They Said
If previous papal visits are any indication, Pope Francis will arrive with a clear-cut mission.
Pope Francis is the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, but his visit to the United States next week makes him just the fourth pope to step foot on American soil.
The first three to make the trip were the last three long-serving popes—the list excludes John Paul I, who was pope for just over a month—a sign of how important U.S. visits have become for church leaders. “Popes come here not just to speak to the United States, but to speak to the world,” says Stephen Schneck, Director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America.
Here’s what happened when previous popes visited:
The first pope to visit the United States,
