Pope Francis Set To Make History With Address To U.S. Congress This September

Pope Francis is set to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Sept. 24 this year, the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to do so, House Speaker John Boehner announced on Thursday.

"That day, His Holiness will be the first pope in our history to address a joint session of Congress," Boehner, R-Ohio told reporters in his weekly news conference. "We're humbled that the Holy Father has accepted our invitation and certainly look forward to receiving his message on behalf of the American people."

"In a time of global upheaval, the Holy Father's message of compassion and human dignity has moved people of all faiths and backgrounds," Boehner said in a written statement. "His teachings, prayers, and very example bring us back to the blessings of simple things and our obligations to one another."

Boehner himself is a Catholic and has extended the invitation for the Pope to speak to the country's legislators. It will be the Pope's first visit to the United States after he was elected to the church's highest post two years ago.

The news was received with a warm "bipartisan welcome" in the U.S. Congress as opposed to the ill acceptance of next month's scheduled address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We are honored and overjoyed that Pope Francis, the first pontiff born in the Americas, has accepted our invitation to address a Joint Meeting of Congress during his upcoming visit to the United States," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), as reported by Politico. "We are eager to welcome His Holiness to the U.S. Capitol and we look forward to hearing his call to live our values, to protect the poor and the needy, and to promote peace."

"I am very much looking forward to welcoming Pope Francis to the United States later this year," said President Obama on Thursday.

The Pontiff is also expected to visit the White House and to speak at the United Nations in New York.

He is also set to participate in a big Catholic gathering for families in Philadelphia.