Statement of Mayor de Blasio on the Visit of Pope Francis to New York City

January 19, 2015

"New York City will be excited and delighted to host Pope Francis during his visit to the United States this September. I was proud to extend an invitation for His Holiness to visit New York when I met with Cardinal Parolin during our visit to the Vatican last year, and the Pope should know New York will welcome him with open arms. Pope Francis is the leading global voice on issues of social justice and income inequality, and New Yorkers from all backgrounds will be tremendously humbled and honored to hear his message right here in our city later this year."