Pope Francis arrived in Joint Base Andrews Tuesday afternoon, and was met shortly after 4 p.m. on the tarmac by President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their two children.
It’s his first visit to America, and the start of several days that will see a parade in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, and an address to a joint session of Congress on Thursday. Francis will speak to the United Nations on Friday.
President Obama greets Pope Francis as he arrives in the US for historic visit: http://t.co/N803BV5zaOhttps://t.co/EszD1qN0kj
— ABC News (@ABC) September 22, 2015
Vice President Joe Biden was also on hand.
His visit has already prompted some controversy, as Pope Francis has come out in favor of action on climate change, something that has stirred up opposition among Republicans. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., has already said he would boycott the pope’s address to Congress on Thursday, and his office says others will join him.
But so far, no other members have said publicly they will sit out the historic speech.
