Pope confirms US trip at Vatican family meeting, urges participants not to label families

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput arrives for an interview with The Associated Press, at the Vatican, Monday, Nov. 17, 2014. Pope Francis confirmed Monday that he will travel to the U.S. next year to participate in a rally for families in Philadelphia. Francis had said he hoped to make the September meeting. But he confirmed his presence at the World Meeting of Families during a speech to an interreligious conference on traditional family values at the Vatican. Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, who is organizing the meeting, welcomed the news. "I applauded the loudest" when Francis made the announcement, Chaput told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has confirmed it: He will travel to the U.S. next year to participate in a rally for families in Philadelphia.

Earlier this summer, Francis had said he hoped to make the September meeting. But he confirmed his presence at the World Meeting of Families during a speech Monday to an interreligious conference on traditional family values at the Vatican.

He said: "I wish to confirm according to the wishes of the Lord, that in September of 2015, I will go to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families."

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, who is organizing the meeting, welcomed the news. He told The Associated Press: "I applauded the loudest" when Francis made the announcement.