Pope Francis Announces Plans to Visit September 11 Memorial During US Visit

Pope Francis announced June 30 that he plans to visit the National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York during his upcoming trip to the United States.

According to reports, Francis will pay his respects to victims of the 9/11 attacks through his first visit to the memorial site as pope. He plans to hold a meeting with other Christian leaders at the memorial in an effort to encourage peace. Francis will travel to the United States in September for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia and a private meeting with President Barack Obama and he will also address the United Nations General Assembly and attend a joint session of Congress before making his way to New York City.

Former New York City Mayor and 9/11 Memorial Chairman Michael Bloomberg said that the pope’s visit will be a significant moment for the city and will demonstrate how far it has come since Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, visited in 2008. Bloomberg added that the pope would be among more than 6.5 million visitors to the memorial this year.

Additionally, the former mayor said that the space has been transformed from a closed-off site to an inspiring memorial since the last papal visit. He noted that the current memorial and museum embodies the resilience of the city and tells the stories of the victims in a beautiful and inspiring setting.

If you or your loved one was a victim or survivor of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, you may be entitled to certain medical benefits and compensation from the federal government. For more information, contact an experienced New York personal injury lawyer at Barasch & McGarry