Pope Francis to visit President Obama at the White House

The White House

The White House has issued a statement announcing that United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will host Pope Francis on September 23, 2015. The meeting will take place in the White House.

The statement says President Obama and Pope Francis will discuss several issues of mutual interest, including "caring for the marginalized and the poor; advancing economic opportunity for all; serving as good stewards of the environment; protecting religious minorities and promoting religious freedom around the world; and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities."

The statement says President Obama "looks forward to continuing this conversation with the Holy Father during his first visit to the United States as Pope." Pope Francis and President Obama met for the first time at the Vatican on March 27, 2014.

It has already been announced Pope Francis will address a joint session of the United States Congress on September 24. After visiting Washington, Pope Francis' trip to the United States will take him to New York City, where he will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, before he heads to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families from September 26-27.