Getting ready for the Pope

A worker outside Saint Patrick's Cathedral paints in New York as the city prepares for the visit of Pope Francis.

A U.S. flag blows in the wind in front of a mural of Pope Francis across the street from Madison Square Garden in New York as the city prepares for his visit.

Cloth rosary holders with an image of Pope Francis are on display in the gift shop at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. Pope Francis will visit Catholic sites across the nation's capital including the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception where he will celebrate Mass.

Pope Francis figurines are on display in the gift shop at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.

A worker moves past a life-size cutout of Pope Francis in Memorial Hall of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.

A worker sets up rows of chairs in preparation of the Pope's visit at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.. Pope Francis will celebrate Mass on Sept. 23 at the basilica, the largest Catholic church in the United States and North America, with a crowd of about 30,000.

Father Justin Ross, director of liturgy at Catholic University, pushes racks of vestments to be worn by priests at the Sept. 23 Mass with Pope Francis during preparations at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.

Portable toilets sit locked on the National Mall near the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. the day before Pope Francis arrives. Washington is bracing for the crowds hoping to get a glimpse of the Pontiff.

Workers set up rows of chairs in preparation of the Pope's visit at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.

Souvenirs of Pope Francis are displayed at the gift shop at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.

Workers put finishing touches on the main alter of St. Patrick's Cathedral in preparation for Pope Francis' visit to the church later this week in New York City.

U.S. Capitol grounds worker Steve Graham secures crowd control fencing in preparation of Pope Francis' visit in Washington, DC. Pope Francis will arrive in Washington on Sept. 22 to spend 3 days before he travels to New York and Philadelphia.

A mural of Pope Francis is on display in midtown Manhattan.

Artists work on a mural of Pope Francis on the side of a building in midtown Manhattan in New York City. The Pope will be making his first trip to the United States on a three-city, five-day tour that will begin in Washington on Sept. 22, then to New York City and Philadelphia. The Pope will leave on Sept. 27.

Pope Francis bobble heads are displayed at a souvenir store in Washington, DC.

Workers remove a light pole in front of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC ahead of Pope Francis' first U.S. mass.

Workers carry a portion of the altar that Pope Francis' will use for his mass past a statue of Our Lady of El Cobre at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.

A worker hangs banners ahead of Pope Francis' scheduled visit,on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.

Workers build a stage ahead of Pope Francis' scheduled visit on Eakins Oval in view of city hall in Philadelphia.

A visitor to St. Patrick's Cathedral buys a Pope Francis commemorative coin, in New York. Pope Francis will pray the Evening Prayer at a Vespers service at the cathedral on Sept. 24.

Lucia Popian, president of G & L Popian Inc., cleans and polishes the pulpit of St. Patrick's Cathedral as one of the final touches in preparation for Pope Francis' visit in New York. Pope Francis will pray the Evening Prayer at a Vespers service at the Cathedral on Sept. 24.

Gabriel Popian, vice president of G & L Popian Inc., applies polymeric micro crystalline wax to St. Patrick's Cathedral main doors as one of the final touches in preparation for Pope Francis' visit in New York. Pope Francis will pray the Evening Prayer at a Vespers service at the cathedral on Sept. 24.

Workers prepare the east portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for a Mass for 25,000 people in Washington, D.C.

Carpenter Carlos Hernandez works on the altar from which Pope Francis will deliver an outdoor Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception during his upcoming visit to Washington, DC at Carriage Hill Cabinets in Frederick, Md. Pope Francis will be the fourth pope to visit the United States.