Pope Francis kicked off his first full day in the U.S. Wednesday with a White House welcome ceremony attended by 11,000 ticketed guests as well as staff, military, press, and other officials.
"Today we mark many firsts," President Obama said. "Your holiness, you've been celebrated as the first pope from the Americas. This is your first visit to the United States."
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The 78-year-old Argentine pope arrived in D.C. Tuesday. He will lead a mass and address Congress before traveling to New York and Philadelphia.