Limited chances to see Pope Francis during D.C. visit

Pope Francis will have a very tight schedule when he visits D.C. from September 22 to 24, and there will be limited opportunities to see him. He will hold a mass at the Basilica at Catholic University, but due to limited space there are very few tickets. The mass is expected to be attended by about 25,000 people. According to a Catholic spokeswoman, “Every parish received a small allotment of tickets for the pastor to distribute to his parishioners.” On September 24, Pope Francis will become the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress, an event which will be broadcast on screens on the West Front of the Capitol and at which he is expected to make a brief public appearance. Other planned events include a ceremony at the White House, and visits to several churches and charities.