A boisterous crowd along with a throng of dignitaries was on hand to greet Pope Francis as he arrived at Andrews Air Force Base this afternoon.

“Ho-ho! Hey-hey! Welcome to the USA” the crowd chanted as Pope Francis appeared in the doorway of Shepherd One around 4:05 p.m. today. He wasgreeted on the tarmac by four Catholic school students – a first, third, fifth and seventh grader – who presented him with flowers.

President Barack Obama, along with his wife and daughters, were also on hand to greet the pope. Francis shook hands with each member of the family before moving down the line of greeters.

After a few minutes, the pope was whisked away in a waiting vehicle, but not before rolling down the window and smiling with obvious pleasure at the people who continued to chant and cheer him.

The White House will officially welcome him to the United States tomorrow morning at 9:15 a.m., followed by a papal parade along the Ellipse and the National Mall. Francis will conduct midday prayer at 11:30 a.m. with the U.S. bishops at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in D.C.

At 4:15 p.m., he will  preside over the Junipero canonization Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

This is but the prelude for his much anticipated address to a Joint Session of Congress which will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. It is the first time in U.S. history that a pope has addressed Congress.

“Pope Francis is the ultimate Washington outsider. His priorities are not Washington’s priorities,” said John Carr, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University to CNN. “We think we are the center of the world. We are not the center of Pope Francis’ world. He is frankly more comfortable in the slums of Argentina than in the corridors of power.”

We thank you, Holy Father, for stepping out of your comfort zone to bring a much needed message of hope and joy to the faithful of this great nation!