POPE FRANCIS'S FIRST VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

Pope Francis has arrived in the United States. His chartered airplane is on the ground at Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington after delivering the leader of the world's Roman Catholics on his first-ever U.S. visit. Francis landed after a flight from Cuba, where he wrapped up a four-day visit.

Before leaving the communist island country, Francis appealed to Cubans to rediscover their Catholic heritage and live a "revolution of tenderness."

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden who is the first catholic vice president and his wife, Jill, are at Andrews to welcome the pope. Politicians and their families, archbishops and Catholic children converged to welcome Pope Francis to the United States. In addition to President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, the welcoming party includes first daughters Malia and Sasha Obama and their grandmother, Marian Robinson. The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See and the archbishop of Washington are joining them. The White House says the Vatican also picked four elementary and middle school children from the Washington area to greet the pope and present him with flowers.The official guests join a crowd of others on bleachers waiting to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis. 23 Catholic schools in Maryland and the District of Columbia are represented, along with about 400 local military members and their families. The crowd practiced cheers of, "We love Francis, how about you?" and "Ho, Ho, Hey, Hey, Pope Francis is on the way."

The pope is to address the congress before heading to New York and Philadelphia