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Pope Francis was escorted to the plane in Santiago by Raul Castro along with an honor guard and military band carrying the Cuban and Vatican flags.

\"PHOTO:
Andrew Harnik/AP Photo
PHOTO: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet Pope Francis upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Sept. 22, 2015.
>

The visit to Washington D.C. will last through Thursday, and will include a landmark address to Congress which none of the previous three popes who visited the U.S. have done. From there, he will travel to New York City, where he will stay until Saturday morning when he will travel to Philadelphia. He will stay in the 'City of Brotherly Love' until Sunday night, when he takes an evening flight back to the Vatican.

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\"PHOTO:
Andrew Harnik/AP Photo
PHOTO: A crowd waves to a plane carrying Pope Francis as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Sept. 22, 2015.
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