The morning ceremony at the White House was followed by a short parade through the streets of Washington D.C.
These images capture the excitement of the thousands who were gathered.
National
PHOTO ESSAY: POPE FRANCIS, WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY AND PARADE
9/23/2015
PEOPLE WAIT FOR POPE FRANCIS TO DRIVE PAST ALONG A STREET IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23. (CNS PHOTO/ALEX BRANDON, POOL)
NUNS SING AND WAVE THE FLAG OF ARGENTINA AS THEY WAIT FOR THE PARADE WITH POPE FRANCIS IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23.
POPE FRANCIS GIVES A THUMBS UP TO THE CROWD AS HE RIDES IN THE POPEMOBILE IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23. (CNS PHOTO/ALEX BRANDON, POOL)
A ROSARY, U.S. AND VATICAN FLAGS ARE HELD UP DURING AN ARRIVAL CEREMONY FOR POPE FRANCIS ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23. (CNS PHOTO/JOSHUA ROBERTS)
PEOPLE GATHER OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE BEFORE POPE FRANCIS MEETS WITH U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23. (CNS PHOTO/KEVIN LAMARQUE, REUTERS)
POPE FRANCIS, U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE WAVE FROM THE SOUTH PORTICO OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23. (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)
POPE FRANCIS GREETS PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE VATICAN EMBASSY BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23. (CNS PHOTO/JACLYN LIPPELMANN, CATHOLIC STANDARD)
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SHAKES HANDS WITH POPE FRANCIS DURING AN ARRIVAL CEREMONY ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23. (CNS PHOTO/JOSHUA ROBERTS)
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SPEAKS DURING A WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR POPE FRANCIS ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23. (CNS PHOTO/JOSHUA ROBERTS)
THE FIFE AND DRUM CORPS MARCHES PAST U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND POPE FRANCIS DURING AN ARRIVAL CEREMONY ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON SEPT. 23. (CNS PHOTO/JOSHUA ROBERTS)