America is preparing for Pope Benedict XVI's six-day visit (April 15-20) to New York and Washington, D.C. It is the first time a pope has visited the states since 1999.
Church officials say the Pope will talk about the child sex abuse scandal in a "specific way" during this trip to help heal old wounds.
While he is in New York the Pope will also visit a synagogue.
Here is the official schedule, as well as
some of the most noteworthy events on the schedule.
Sirius radio is going to dedicate three channels to the visit.
TIME gives us a peek at how the Pope feels about American Catholics.
Here is an Associated Press story on the status of the Catholic Church in America today.
More background:
The Pope may face
protests by Catholic school teachers in New York who have been working without a contract since last summer. At least
one gay rights group plans a protest.
Who makes the vestments that clergy wear during these ceremonies?
The Pope recently riled Muslims.
Read the background here.
The Pope's approval rating is about 70 percent, according to a poll released this week.
