More than 200 local residents will be seeing Pope Francis during his six-day visit to Washington, New York and Philadelphia. The local delegation from the Buffalo Catholic Diocese is being led by Bishop Richard Malone.
"It's going to be a good thing for the Catholic Church in our country," Bishop Malone said of the Papal visit.
"And I believe it will be a very good thing as well for the country as a whole."
Malone says there's excitement across the board about Pope Francis whether you agree with his teachings or not. He says there's something inspiring whenever the Pope presents himself.
The Bishop says he expects the Pope's speech at the United Nations will be about the environment. And he expects Americans will hear a strong message about the growing gap between rich and poor.
"It's very much on his mind and in his heart," Malone said.
"He know that we have serious problems here. We have homelessness. We have poverty. He also knows we have tremendous wealth."
Pope Francis will be the first pope to address a joint session of Congress. But Bishop Malone says the pope's not coming to the U.S. as a politician - he's coming as the universal pastor of the Catholic community worldwide.