NEW YORK — Pope Francis will pay a six-day visit to the United States starting Sept. 22 – marking the longest Papal trip to the country ever. As the world has seen, Pope Francis has adopted a very different style to his predecessors by not following any particular style, tradition or expected protocols. Pope Francis's trip is mixed with religion and politics, and includes an Oval Office meeting with US President Barack Obama. It also comes as world leaders gather in New York City for the annual UN General Assembly meetings. The global stature of Pope Francis is firmly in place. Since March 2013 when he became Pope, Francis has defied stereotypes, and keeps making history. When 78-year-old Pope Francis touches down in Washington DC, he will make history as the first Pope to travel directly from Cuba to the United States. It is something commentators in the US have pointed out as strategic, and perhaps political too. The two countries just formalized diplomatic relations this year after 50 years. It's also significant that there are 30 million Hispanics — all practicing Catholicism — that live in the United States. Unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis isn't afraid to touch on “hot button” political issues. They include women forced into prostitution; the current refugee crisis sweeping Europe; environmental destruction; and appointing a commission to address the sexual abuses within the Catholic church, which have made numerous headlines for years in the US. Luckily those headlines have taken a back seat in recent days, to the excitement and anticipation of Pope Francis's arrival, which will take him to Washington DC, New York City and Philadelphia. Newspaper headlines have ranged from “A Humble Pope Changing the World,” to one referring to “The Francis Effect.” In a country where celebrity is given, the Pope's visit is leaving everyone in awe. The United States is home to nearly 70 million Catholics and is the largest English speaking Catholic population in the world, accounting for nearly 25% of people in the US. Catholicism really got “put on the map” with the election of President John F. Kennedy in 1960, but there are plenty of other high profile Catholic politicians still in office. They include Vice President Joe Biden; Speaker of the House John Boehner; and the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court John Roberts. In addition, the majority of US Senators, Representatives and Governors count themselves at Catholics. It's perhaps why the Pope is feeling a little nervous about addressing Congress on Thursday. As the first Latin American Pope, Francis is a true linguist. Pope Francis speaks fluent Spanish, Italian, German and French — the one language he doesn't feel so comfortable speaking is English. Sources within the Vatican have said he's spent hours and hours rehearsing his speech to Congress, and have the eyes of the world's media trained on his remarks. He's also got the eyes of two well-known US political families watching him too. Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush, both of who hope to have the title of President in 2016. Jeb Bush — the former Governor of Florida — is a practicing Catholic. He is on record as saying this about Pope Francis who seems quite at ease mixing religion and politics, “I don't get economic policy from my bishops or my cardinals or my Pope.” Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton who's a Methodist, said she's “a great admirer” of Pope Francis and hopes that his address to Congress “will pinch the conscience of everyone.” The Pope's six-day trip leaves him with little room for ‘down time.' After he touches down in Washington DC on Tuesday, he will be up bright and early on Wednesday for an official welcome ceremony at the White House. He will take the Papal Vehicle along the Ellipse and National Mall where thousands of people are expected to cheer him along the route. Thursday sees Pope Francis in Washington DC in the morning, and New York City in the afternoon where he hosts a Papal Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral on famed Fifth Avenue. His schedule on Friday is sure to draw a lot of speculation in the US press, as he will meet the President of the UN General Assembly — a seat currently held by Russia. Given the US is unhappy with Russian involvement in Syria, the media is sure to be out in full force. Pope Francis has made a commitment to highlight issues surrounding some of the poorest communities in the world. It should come as no surprise then that he will pay a visit to a school in Harlem, which is still coming to terms with both financial and racial equality. From there Francis travels through Central Park, before holding a Papal Mass at Madison Square Garden. It's fitting these two venues have played host to such famous names as the Beatles and Rolling Stones too. Pope Francis's ‘rock star” status in the United States will end in Philadelphia, where he will be on Saturday and Sunday before returning to Rome. It will be his longest trip since assuming the Papacy, and perhaps the trip where expectations of his visit have never been higher.
