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NBC News is reporting that Pope Francis confirmed that he will visit Philadelphia next year.
Pope Francis told NBC News he will be paying a visit to the city of brotherly love. NBC's Anne Thompson spoke to the pope in Italian as the pontiff flew to Asia for his first-ever trip. Thompson asked, in Italian, if the pope would travel to Philadelphia at any point.
"Si," replied Francis, going on to mentioned the city's World Family Day, due to take place in September 2015. The Vatican typically does not announce Papal Trips more than six months in advance. Past remarks made by the pope about travel plans, however, have proved to play out. The pontiff said in July 2013 that he wanted to go to Asia - which is exactly where he landed on Thursday.
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput has been lobbying hard for a papal visit to his World Meeting of Families scheduled for Sept. 22-27, 2015. He got the U.S. bishops' conference to endorse a letter of invitation. If Francis makes the trip, Chaput said more than 1 million people could attend.
I guess y'all had better make hotel reservations now.
