Pope Francis is addressing a huge gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in New York City.<\/p>\n
He is expected to speak about the refugee crisis and poverty in his speech at the General Assembly.<\/p>\n
Thousands lined Fifth Avenue on Thursday evening as the Argentinian pontiff made his way to St Patrick’s Cathedral for evening prayers.<\/p>\n
Later he will visit the 11 September memorial for a multi-faith service and meet with Catholic schoolchildren.<\/p>\n
He addressed UN staff after being greeted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, telling them their roles were very important.<\/p>\n
“Thank you for all you do… I bless each one of you from my heart. I will pray for you and your families,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I ask each of you to remember to pray for me. If anyone is not a believer, I ask you to wish me well.”<\/p>\n
Catholics in America:<\/strong><\/p>\n \uf0a7 80 million baptised as Catholics<\/p>\n \uf0a7 Six of the nine Supreme Court justices are Catholic<\/p>\n \uf0a7 31% of the US Congress (22% general population)<\/p>\n \uf0a7 One Catholic president (JFK) and one vice-president (Joe Biden) in the history of the US<\/p>\n \uf0a7 Six Catholic Republicans running for 2016 presidential nomination, the most ever<\/p>\n Source: New York Times<\/strong><\/p>\n His service at the memorial will be held in Spanish and the school he will visit is in the heavily Hispanic neighbourhood of East Harlem.<\/p>\n About 80,000 are expected to watch the procession as he makes his way to Mass at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.<\/p>\n Nearly 20,000 are set to attend the service at the major sporting and concert arena.<\/p>\n The Pope arrived in New York from Washington on Thursday evening, where he delivered the first-ever papal address to the US Congress.<\/p>\n In the speech, he urged a humane response to migrants, an end to the death penalty and better treatment of the poor and disadvantaged.<\/p>\n Next he will go to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he will speak in front of Independence Hall and have Mass at a Catholic families’ rally. Pope Francis is addressing a huge gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in New York City. He is expected to speak about the refugee crisis and poverty in his speech at the General Assembly. Thousands lined Fifth Avenue on Thursday evening as the Argentinian pontiff made his way to St Patrick’s Cathedral for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":154751,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[14],"yoast_head":"\n
\n–
\nBy: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"