Seven Best Places to Spot Pope Francis in New York City

Watch Pope Francis in the USA - Meeting with the American Bishops

For many Filipinos living in New York or in the east coast, your best chances of seeing the Bishop of Rome Pope Francis is from September 24th to 25th, Pope Francis will be making his first visit to the United States — traveling to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and NYC — as the 266th pope and the first elected non-European pope since 741 AD. Here are seven best locations in NYC where you may be able to spot Pope Francis.


1. Landing at JFK International Airport from Washington DC
On Thursday September 24th at 5pm as the Pope arrives in JFK airport New York. Let us extend our warm welcome and gracious hospitality as we Filipinos are best known for.

2. Leading prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
On September 24, Pope Francis’ first night in Manhattan, he’ll lead a prayer with the parish of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.Though the prayer itself is only open to clergy members of this specific parish, you may spot Pope Francis outside — he’ll be entering the cathedral around 6:45pm. Arrive very early to stake out a spot.

3. Arriving at the United Nations General Assembly
Pope Francis is set to address the United Nations General Assembly at 8:30am on Friday, September 25, coinciding with the General Assembly’s 70th anniversary. Both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II also formally addressed the United Nations General Assembly.

4. Paying respects to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
On Friday, September 25, Pope Francis hosts a multi-religious service at 11:30am on the grounds of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum — Pope Benedict XVI visited in April of 2008 to bless the same location. The service itself will be a limited, lottery-ticketed event for those who lost loved ones during the September 11 attacks. But, you may be able to spot the pope before the ceremony in the surrounding area.

5. Visiting Our Lady Queen of Angels in East Harlem
On Friday, September 25 at around 4pm, Pope Francis will be visiting the 120-year-old school, Our Lady Queen of Angels, to speak with a classroom packed with eager third graders. Try staking out a spot at the nearby Thomas Jefferson Park or Poor Richard’s Playground.

6. Join evening mass at Madison Square Garden
At 6pm on Friday, September 25, join Pope Francis for an evening mass at Madison Square Garden. While tickets are not available to the public, those of Catholic faith may inquire with their parish leaders of dioceses in New York State and the Archdiocese of New York for tickets. Also, before and after the event, you may spot Pope Francis and perhaps even receive a personal wave as he leaves and enters Madison Square Garden.

7. Central Park Papal Procession
On Friday, September 25th, 2015, between roughly 4 p.m. and 6 p.m, Pope Francis will travel via motorcade through Central Park to meet and greet New Yorkers. This will happen shortly after his visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels school and before the Madison Square Mass at 6 p.m that same day.

Due to limited space for the Pope’s historic Central Park procession, Residents of New York State only may enter a ticket giveaway contest once for a chance to receive two (2) tickets for the event. The sign up period for the ticket giveaway will begin on September 3rd and close on September 7th. Here is the link to the website http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/papal-visit.page.

Sorry, Central Park ticket SOLD OUT

Pope Francis exclusive design t-shirt almost gone!
Get yours now!