On a sunny September evening, Pope Francis arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens greeted by a high school band and leaders of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Archdiocese of New York.

That was Sept. 24, 2015. He then made his way to St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan for an evening prayer. 

Arriving in his popemobile, the pontiff was greeted by large crowds on Fifth Avenue. Also excited were elected officials from the city and state at the time, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Sen. Chuck Schumer, who greeted the pope as he entered St. Pat's.

"Papa Francesca, welcome to St. Patrick's Cathedral,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said inside the church.

The pope spoke about the sex abuse crisis in the church, thanking clergy members for their service in the face of shame from others who harmed the church’s most vulnerable members. 

He also thanked women for all that they have done for the faith.  

The following day, Sept. 25, Pope Francis really experienced a New York minute with a jammed-packed and hectic schedule.

First, he spoke at the United Nations’ General Assembly in front of world leaders. He addressed climate change and poverty around the world.  

A few hours later, he attended a multifaith ceremony at the Sept. 11 memorial at the World Trade Center. He prayed for the victims, as well as their families, and called for peace for all people.

"Say no to any attempt to make us all the same, and to say yes to our differences,” he said in Spanish. 

From Lower Manhattan, Pope Francis headed up to East Harlem to meet with elementary and high school students at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic School. He asked the kids to pray for him. He also spoke with immigrant workers who said they were helping to build the city.

Then it was back to the popemobile for a ride through Central Park as massive crowds lined the streets hoping to get a glimpse of the Holy Father. 

This as the Pope made his way to Madison Square Garden to deliver a Mass to 20,000 people. He was greeted like a champion athlete and rock star rolled into one.

As he kissed and hugged babies and those with disabilities, he warned the great city of New York not to forget the poor and the underserved, saying Jesus is among them. 

As he bestowed blessings on New York, New York blessed him with his own city ID card, and a Bronx bakery came up with the Pope cookie — a sweet treat honoring Pope Francis's trip to the five boroughs.