By Christina Bellantoni and JM Rieger

Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio announced Thursday that Pope Francis will address Congress on Sept. 24. Francis will be in Philadelphia in late September for a global conference on Roman Catholic family values. “It is my great privilege to announce that His Holiness Pope Francis will visit the United States Capitol on Thursday, September 24, 2015,” Boehner announced in a statement, noting it would mark the first leader of the Holy See to address a joint meeting of Congress.