Pope Francis will become the first pontiff to address the US Congress after accepting an invitation to visit the White House. US President Barack Obama will host the Pope on September 23, after extending an invitation during talks at the Vatican last year. The White House said the president and the pope will continue a dialogue about poverty, the environment, immigration and promoting religious freedom. Papal first: Pope Francis has announced his intention to address the US Congress during a stateside visit in September--which will make him the first pope to ever do so . 'The president looks forward to continuing this conversation with the Holy Father during his first visit to the United States as pope,' a statement said. The 78-year-old leader of the world's Roman Catholics confirmed late last year that he would visit the United States to take part in a Catholic Church congress in Philadelphia. During the trip, he will also address the United Nations in New York and become the first pontiff to address the US Congress. Obama and Francis met for the first time at the Vatican in March last year in talks clouded by disagreements over provisions for contraception included in the US leader's landmark health care reforms. Dialogue: Pope Francis will continue a dialogue about poverty, the environment, immigration and promoting religious freedom . Obama has regularly spoken of his admiration for Francis, repeatedly praising the pontiff for his compassion and modesty. 'As a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion that has inspired the world for more than two thousand years - that in each other we see the face of God,' Obama said last year. Francis is also widely credited with helping to kickstart the secret diplomacy between Cuba and the United States which culminated with the two Cold War rivals declaring a historic rapprochement last year. According to a Vatican statement, Francis wrote letters to US and Cuban leaders and 'invited them to resolve humanitarian questions of common interest, including the situation of certain prisoners, in order to initiate a new phase in relations between the two parties.' Obama has regularly spoken of his admiration for Francis, repeatedly praising the pontiff for his compassion and modesty. The U.S. president visited Francis at the Vatican in March .
The announcement comes after US President Barack Obama's invitation to visit the White House September 23 . The 78-year-old confirmed late last year that he would visit the US to take part in a Catholic Church congress in Philadelphia . During the trip, he will also address the United Nations in New York and become the first pontiff to address the US Congress .