Knoxville cardinal preparing for Pope Francis’ United States visit

“He’s directly challenging so numerous things that have become political issues here in the United States“, Burns said. The fifth grader is one five Catholic school students chosen by the Diocese of Brooklyn to greet the pope when he arrives at John F. Kennedy global Airport on Thursday. The crowd is expected to be even larger on Sunday, when the pope celebrates Mass at the festival.

“Junipero Serra’s our patron saint”, said senior Richard Klose who gets to go on the trip.

On Monday the Pope prayed at Cuba’s most revered Catholic shrine – a move seen by many as an attempt to revive faith on the Caribbean island after decades in which the Church was driven underground by the Communist regime.

Beyond his efforts in the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis has made a point to embrace those of all religious backgrounds.

“I think Pope Francis is coming to the people of the United States”, Farrell said.

For the first time in history the Pope will address Congress. But it’s not the first time Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry will be seeing him.

“They have a Catholic base and I think a lot of the Pope’s ideas conflict with some of the traditional Republican values”, says Andrews.

Having been part of two other papal visits, Mulligan says the experience is unlike anything else. “And that’s just something that I aspire to be like, to have that radiant joy that he has”, Father Eric Clark, Parochial Vicar at St. Michael’s, said. It’s big this year because like 93′ when we had the World Youth Day in Denver, the World Meeting of Families is drawing people from all around the world.

Like many Catholics across Northern Ohio, Bishop Richard Lennon is excited for Pope Francis’ visit to America. During his stay, Francis will speak to Congress, address the United Nations, attend evening prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, join a multireligion service at the September 11 Memorial and Museum, say Masses for multitudes, meet bishops and visit a prison.

“To be in that presence, you know someone who represents Christ’s church here on Earth, that’s a tremendous blessing”.

County Executive Chris Abele and Marquette University’s President Michael Lovell are heading to Washington, D.C.to see Pope Francis.