Pope Francis will say mass at Madison Square Garden in September

Pope Francis will say mass at Madison Square Garden on September 25 as part of his visit to the United States.

Pope Francis will celebrate mass at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25 as part of his visit to the United States. 

The Vatican released the pope's official itinerary on Tuesday. Before arriving for a five-day stay in America, Francis will be in Cuba from Sept. 19 to 22.

Pope Francis will land in New York City on Sept. 24 after a trip to Washington D.C. He will hold an evening prayer session at St. Patrick's Cathedral at 6 p.m. that same evening. Before arriving at Madison Square Garden, Pope Francis will visit the United Nations, attend a multi-religious service at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and visit Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem.

The Pope will depart from New York on the morning of Sept. 26 for Philadelphia. 

Billy Joel's concert the day after the MSG mass has been rescheduled. Madonna will perform at MSG on Sept. 16 and 17.

Sporting venues in New York are no strangers to papal visits. The original Yankee Stadium hosted Pope Paul VI in 1965 and Pope John Paul II in 1979. John Paul II also said mass at Shea Stadium in 1979 and Giants Stadium in 1995. Pope Benedict XVI drew nearly 60,000 people for mass at the old Yankee Stadium in 2008.

- Christopher Chavez