Pope Francis is to make his first trip to the United States as the head of the Catholic Church in September , the Vatican said Monday . He will travel to the World Meeting of the Families , said Vatican spokesman the Rev . Federico Lombardi . The Catholic public event , which celebrates the family as the basic building block of society , is to be held in Philadelphia next year . `` It is the answer to the countless prayers of so many people who have asked God to guide Pope Francis to Philadelphia , the culmination of many months of hopeful anticipation , and the fulfillment of my own confidence that the Holy Father would grace us with his presence next year , '' Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput said in a statement . At a news conference , Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter heralded the occasion as `` something truly to be excited about . '' `` Pope Francis has demonstrated grace , vision and wisdom in these first few years of his papacy , '' the mayor said . `` He 's been committed to building consensus , embracing diversity and celebrating faith . We must follow his example and work to encourage and engage with others in the same way . '' The trip will make Francis the fourth reigning Pontiff to visit the United States , the World Meeting of the Families said . The challenges that families face in modern times have been a hallmark topic for Pope Francis . He is to hold a Mass on Philadelphia 's broad central city avenue , Benjamin Franklin Parkway , on September 27 . World of the Family Meetings were instituted by St. John Paul II and have taken place every three years , starting with the first one in Rome in 1994 .
He will be the fourth Pope to visit the U.S. , Catholic organization says . The Pontiff goes to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families . Challenges that families face are a hallmark topic for the Pope .