Pope Francis will canonize Blessed Junipero Serra in a ceremony at Washington's National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Catholic News Service reported.
In a news conference Monday, the pope said his September trip to the United States will include stops in D.C., New York and Philadelphia.
A Spanish Franciscan friar, Blessed Junipero founded several missions in California in the 18th century, but Pope Francis said he would not have time to travel to the West Coast on this trip. He said D.C. is appropriate for the canonization because a statue of Blessed Junipero stands in the U.S. Capitol.
The pope's schedule has not yet been approved by the Vatican, but it would include arriving in D.C. Sept. 22, visiting White House and celebrating Mass at the Basilica of the Shring of the Immaculate Conception Sept. 23, and addressing Congress Sept. 24 before traveling to New York to address the United Nations Sept. 25.
The pope is scheduled to hold an outdoor service Sept. 27 in Philadelphia that could draw hundreds of thousands of people. He also has plans to participate in the World Meeting of Families.
