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Pope Francis Shares Rare English-Language Greeting Ahead Of U.S. Visit

"See you in Philadelphia!"
Kim Bellware
By 

Reporter, HuffPost

Days before his three-city tour of the United States, Pope Francis shared a rare English-language greeting with the City of Brotherly Love:

“I look forward to greeting the pilgrims and the people of Philadelphia when I come for the World Meeting of Families,” Francis said in a video shared Sunday by Archbishop James Chaput of the Philadelphia Archdiocese. “I will be there because you will be there! See you in Philadelphia!”

I wanted to share with you a very special and beautiful message from the Holy Father, in anticipation of his visit to Philadelphia next week for World Meeting of Families 2015. His personal call to each of us and his desire to be with all during his visit to Philadelphia is deeply moving. I hope that all who hear his words will allow them to touch their hearts and be compelled to join in this moment of grace, love and community. Simply put, this moment will not come again.May the Lord give you peace.

Posted by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput on Sunday, September 20, 2015

Francis is known to be fluent in his native Spanish and Italian, and can also speak some English, French, German, Latin and Portuguese. He publicly spoke English for the first time in his papacy in October 2013.

The pope is expected to deliver speeches mostly in Spanish when he makes his first visit to the U.S. on Tuesday. The six-day tour includes stops in Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia.

Francis is scheduled to visit Philadelphia on Sept. 26-27 to close out the World Meeting of Families, a triennial Catholic conference focused on strengthening family bonds.

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