PHOTOS: Past papal visits to New York City

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Sunday, September 20, 2015

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The arrival of Pope Francis marks the fifth time a pope has paid a visit to New York City.

POPE BENEDICT XVI: APRIL 2008
Pope Benedict XVI arrived in 2008 and addressed the United Nations. He later visited St. Joseph's Parish on the Upper East Side in Yorkville, and then became the first pope to visit ground zero.

Pope Benedict XVI meets with a New York City firefighter after praying and lighting a candle at ground zero. The pope met with survivors and relatives of victims of the World Trade Center attacks as well as first responders at the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, Pool)

Pope Benedict XVI visits the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. The pope offered blessings to survivors and family members of those killed in the attack. (AP Photo/Todd Heisler, Pool)

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, greets Pope Benedict XVI as he visits the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. At center is Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York. (AP Photo/Todd Heisler, Pool)

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, left, poses with Pope Benedict XVI, center, and Rabbi Arthur Schneier at the Park East Synagogue in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York City Fire Department Chief Salvatore Cassano kisses the hand of Pope Benedict XVI as he visits the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The Pope offered blessings to survivors and family members of those killed in the attack. (AP Photo/Todd Heisler, Pool)

POPE JOHN PAUL II: OCTOBER 1995
In 1995, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Giants Stadium and the Aqueduct Race Track, addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations, and visited St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie. There was also a Mass before 125,000 people in Central Park, in which he spoke English and Spanish.

John Cardinal O'Connor speaks to Pope John Paul II inside St. Patrick's Cathedral. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Pope John Paul II waves to the crowd from the Popemobile as he arrives at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

President Bill Clinton greets Pope John Paul II during ceremonies on their arrival at Newark International Airport in Newark. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Pope John Paul II addresses the 50th session of the United Nations Thursday Oct. 5, 1995. Appealing to the conscience of humanity,'' the pope urged rich nations to offer more help to the world's poor but told developing countries they won't deserve it unless they respect democracy. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, pool)

Pope John Paul II waves at the end of Mass at Central Park in New York.

Pope John Paul II waves from the steps of St. Patrick's Cathderal as he arrives to recite the Rosary and deliver a brief address in New York. (AP Photo/POOL, Tim Clary)

Pope John Paul II, blesses wheel-chair bound Steven Norton, 9, who suffers from AIDS, as he walks down the aisle of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Norton is accompanied by his adoptive mother Patricia Norton, left, and family friend Jeff Conway, who also suffers from AIDS.

POPE JOHN PAUL II: OCTOBER 1979
In his first New York visit in 1979, Pope John Paul II visited St. Charles Borromeo Church of Harlem, held a prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and attended a youth rally at Madison Square Garden. He also held a Mass for 80,000 people at Yankee Stadium.

Pope John Paul II gestures to the crowd at New York's Shea Stadium after his arrival. Thousands waited under a heavy rain for the Pontiff, whose arrival brought with it, the sun. (AP Photo)

Pope John Paul II makes farewell address at Shea Stadium. (AP Photo/Cameron Bloch)

Pope John Paul II, center, receives gifts from youngsters as student Monica Johnson, 17, holds a t-shirt, presented to him at presentation of symbolic gifts to Pope at New York's Madison Square Garden. The supreme Pontiff received gifts including the t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a guitar. (AP Photo)

Pope John Paul II faces the crowd in front of, and surrounding, St. Patrick's Cathedral after his arrival from the United Nations. (AP Photo)

Pope John Paul II is shown on arrival at the United Nations, being greeted by Kurt Waldheim, Secretary General of U.N.. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)

POPE PAUL VI: OCTOBER 1965
In 1965, Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit the United States. He prayed at St. Patrick's Cathedral, visited the United Nations General Assembly and the Vatican exhibit at the New York World's Fair before celebrating Mass at Yankee Stadium.

Pope Paul VI raises his hands to give his final blessing to more than 90,000 persons who jammed New York's Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. (AP Photo)