Pope Francis will touch down in New York City tomorrow at 5 p.m. on his first papal visit to the United States.

He arrived in Washington D.C. on September 22 after a visit to the island of Cuba. He will visit New York before attending the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

Pope Francis was elected the 266th pope on March 13, 2013. He is the first non-European pope elected since the year 741, and he is the first member of the Jesuit order to become pope. The Argentinian Pope was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936. The oldest of five children, his parents were Italian immigrants, and his father was an accountant for the Argentinian railways. Bergoglio earned a degree as a chemical technician but chose to enter the Society of Jesus in 1958 and began to study for the priesthood. In December of 1969, he was ordained a priest.

Bergoglio chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, after his friend, Cardinal Hummes, embraced him in the conclave and said “Don’t forget the poor,” which immediately made him think of St. Francis, a man of poverty.

Historically, New York City has been a key location for papal visits to the United States with Pope Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI visiting the city during their pontificate. It is also considered the largest city in the United States with a population of over 8 million.

Here is Pope Francis’ New York schedule:

Central Park
Friday, September 25, 5 p.m.—7 p.m.

Pope Francis’ Central Park Procession begins at approximately 5:00 PM and concludes at 7:00PM on Friday, September 25th.
12:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic on 61st Street, 62nd Street, 63rd Street, 64th Street, 65th Street and 66th Street between Central Park West and Broadway.
Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic on 67th Street, 68th Street, 69th Street, 70th Street, 71st Street, 72nd Street, 73rd Street, 74th Street, 75th Street, 76th Street, and 77th Street
between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.

Central Park will remain open to the public, but access to the park between West Drive and Central Park West from 81st Street to 59th Street—Columbus Circle will be limited to ticketed guests.

FDR Drive
Thursday, September 24th and Saturday, September 26th

FDR Drive is subject to intermittent closures for the following locations:

Southbound traffic at 63rd street
Northbound traffic at South Ferry

Financial District
Friday, September 25, 11 a.m.—1 p.m.

Pope Francis will visit the National September 11 Memorial and Museum beginning at 11:00am and concluding at 1:00pm on Friday, September 25th. This event is by invitation only
through the September 11 Memorial and Archdiocese of New York.

12:00 AM

Liberty Street and Cedar Street will be closed between Trinity Place and Greenwich Street 

11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Northbound traffic lanes on West Streetwill be closed to vehicular traffic between Battery Place to Murray Street
Southbound traffic lanes will be closed on West Streetbetween Chambers Street and Albany Street
Trucks will be restricted from moving south on West Streetbetween Chambers Street and Albany Street 

Streets may face interruptions in flow of traffic or activities from Barclay Stto Battery Park Place between West Street and Broadway. 

Midtown

Thursday, September 24, 5:30pm-8:00pm

During Pope Francis’ visit to New York City he will make visits to the Midtown area including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 51st and Madison Avenue.   This event is by invitation only through the City of New York and the Archdiocese of New York.

12:00 AM

50th Street and 51st Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5th Avenue to Madison Avenue. 

3:00 AM to 6:00 AM

5th Avenue between 55th Street to 47th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic. 
55th Street to 48th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between 6th Avenue and Madison 

6:00 AM to 10:00 AM

5th Avenue will reopen
All crosstown traffic will reopen, but will be reduced to one lane.
50th Street and 51st Street will remain closed to vehicular traffic from 5th Avenue to Madison Avenue. 

10:00 AM

5th Avenue between 55th Street to 47th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic. 
55th Street to 48th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between 6th Avenue and Madison 

2:00 PM

Madison Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic from 47th Street to 52nd Street. 

5:45 PM to 6:00 PM

5th Avenue from 56th Street to 48th Street will be closed to pedestrian traffic.

Friday, September 25th, 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM

During Pope Francis’ visit to New York City he will make visits to the Midtown area including the United Nations. This event is not open to the public. 

8:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Upper 1st Avenue is closed between 42nd Street to 46th Street
42nd Street is closed to vehicular traffic from 2nd Avenue to 1st Avenue
FDR 42nd Street exit will be closed to vehicular traffic.
43rd Street, 44th Street and 45th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
Trucks will be restricted on Lower 1st Avenue between 40th Street and 47th Street.

Madison Square Garden

Friday, September 25th, 6:00pm—8:15pm

Pope Francis will visit Madison Square Garden beginning at 6:00pm and concluding at 8:00 PM on Friday, September 25th.
This event is by invitation only through the Archdiocese of New York.

12:00 AM to 11:59PM

Streets will be closed to vehicular on 33rd Street and 31st Street from 9th Avenue to 7th Avenue.

12:00 PM

Streets will have managed access for vehicular traffic on 31st Street, 32nd Street and 33rd Street
from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue
On 7th Avenue from 30th Street to 34th Street, two western lanes will be closed to vehicular traffic
On 8th Avenue from 31st Street to 33rd Street, streets will be reduced to one lane only with intermittent closures
Trucks will be restricted from 7thAvenue and 8th Avenue from 30th Street to 34th Street

6:00 PM to 8:30 PM

8thAvenue will be closed to vehicular traffic between 31st Street and 33rd Street 

The only entrance to Madison Square Garden will be from 7th Building occupants and employees are encouraged to carry
identification at all times. There may be interruptions in street activity from 9th Avenue to 6th Avenue between 29th Street and 34th Street. 

Upper East Side
Starting Thursday, September 24th at 6:00 am and ending Saturday, September 26th, 7:00 am

Due to the Papal visit, streets may face periodic interruptions in flow of traffic or activities
from 70th Street to 74th Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue.

Starting September 24th until September 26th, 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Madison Avenue from 69th Street to 73rd Street will be closed to vehicular traffic on the two western lanes

Trucks will have restricted access in this area

5th Avenue from 71st Street to 74th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic on 1 eastern
71st Street and 72nd Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5th Avenue to Madison Avenue 
70th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue 

11:00 PM to 6:00 AM

71st Street, 72nd Street and 73rd Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5th Avenue to Park Avenue
Madison Avenue will be closed between68th Street to 74th Street
Trucks are restricted on 5thAvenue from 71st Street to 74th Street

When Pope Francis is not in residence, Madison Avenue will not be restricted.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

For updates on any service interruptions or reroutes please visit www.mta.info 

If you have any further questions regarding this event and other street closures, please visit nyc.gov/papalvisit or contact 311 or dial 212-NEW-YORK.