Pope Francis will visit an East Harlem Catholic school and celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden (MSG) during his upcoming two-day trip to New York City.

In addition to stopping in Harlem and at MSG, the pope plans to explore Ground Zero, address the United Nations (U.N.) and visit St. Patrick's Cathedral during his first trip to the United States.

His exclusive tour around New York City will begin on Thurs., Sept. 24, with an evening prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The next day, he will address the U.N. General Assembly and hold an interfaith service at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center. While there, the pope will meet with people who lost loved ones in 9/11, survivors and first responders.

The stop at Our Lady Queen of Angels School, which is a pre-K through eighth grade school located on East 112th Street, will give the Catholic leader an opportunity to discuss the needs of immigrants and poor children, which comprises a large population of the school's student body, reports The New York Times.

According to Dr. Timothy McNiff, the superintendent of schools for the archdiocese, the visit will likely include a lesson that demonstrates how "we're teaching the kids to protect the planet," reports The Wall Street Journal.

Zaida Rodriguez, a former parishioner who lives in East Harlem, said the papal visit is an acknowledgment that there are vibrant Catholic schools in her neighborhood.

"Maybe somebody will get a chance to talk to him and see the problems we have here," Rodriguez said. "I found it interesting and odd that they picked that particular school. We'll see what happens."

After his visit to the school, Pope Francis is set to head to Midtown Manhattan to hold Mass at MSG. He will then travel to Philadelphia on Saturday morning to visit with inmates at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility.

Before heading to New York, the religious leader will meet with President Barack Obama and address Congress in Washington, D.C. He will also stop at St. Patrick in the City and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.