WASHINGTON — Catholics in the heart of the nation’s capital are eagerly anticipating Pope Francis’ arrival for his historic journey to the United States, where he will canonize the U.S.’ first Latino saint and become the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress.

“Everywhere you look, there is great enthusiasm for Pope Francis’ visit: For every seat we have at various events, more than 10 times that number have requested tickets,” Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington told the Register. “This demonstrates again how the Holy Father has that singular ability to excite people and give them hope that things can be better.”

During Pope Francis’ whirlwind visit in Washington, from Sept. 22-24, he will meet with President Barack Obama, address Congress, canonize Blessed Junípero Serra — the 18th-century evangelist is often called the “Father of California” for founding the missions in the future state — at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and visit with many people served by Catholic Charities.

“His visit to us as a pastor will, I believe, bear fruit, as people remember that there is a spiritual dimension to our lives, that we are all wanted and loved by God, and we all have a responsibility for each other and our common home,” said Cardinal Wuerl.

Most of the events are ticketed; however, the Pope will ride in the popemobile in a brief morning parade after his Sept. 23 meeting at the White House, allowing thousands of people unable to get tickets to see him up close. Father Evelio Menjivar, pastor of Our Lady, Queen of the Americas in D.C., said thousands of Catholic Latinos from the archdiocese and beyond will converge on Washington to get a glimpse of the first Latino pope; they will “make fiesta” in his honor.

“Hopefully, he will have some mate [a traditional Latin-American drink] with us,” quipped Father Menjivar.

For weeks, the Archdiocese of Washington encouraged Catholics to prepare for the Holy Father’s visit through the #WalkWithFrancis campaign. Similar to the ice-bucket challenge, the campaign asks Catholics to pledge to pray, serve or act, following the example and teaching of Pope Francis, and to challenge others to do the same.

“There is such an energy here that is only building as we get closer,” said Erik Salmi, communications director for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.

As of publication, more than 22,000 individuals and more than 100 parishes had taken the pledge.

“This is our actual, tangible gift to Pope Francis,” he said, adding that they plan to give him a book recording all of the pledges.

Salmi said that the organization is looking forward to introducing Pope Francis to approximately 250 clients representing the work of Catholic Charities — including those out of prison, the disabled, the homeless and immigrants — at St. Patrick’s Church on Sept. 24, followed by a blessing of food prepared for the homeless outside of Catholic Charities’ headquarters on G Street.

Jeanné Isler, a parishioner of St. Augustine Church, the mother church of African-American Catholics in D.C., said the Pope’s impending visit and their priests’ preaching has inspired a renewed spirit of generosity in her parish, with evangelization initiatives planned for after he leaves.

“A lot of the conversations in our parish are: How can we further demonstrate that spirit of compassion to reflect Christ’s love and compassion?” she said.

“His visit is really opening up more opportunities for me personally, to share my faith and my love for Christ.”

The capital’s Catholic institutions of higher learning are also making their own preparations for the papal visit.

The Georgetown university community is also participating in the #WalkWithFrancis campaign, with approximately 500 students participating in a “Community Service Day” in D.C.

“Many individuals and groups are making pledges to pray, serve or act in honor of Pope Francis,” said Georgetown spokeswoman Rachel Pugh.

The Jesuit university is also co-sponsoring, with the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and the Archdiocese of Washington, a concert on Sept. 23 in recognition of Pope Francis’ first visit to Washington. The event will feature Metropolitan Opera singer Denyce Graves, 10-year-old jazz musician José André Montaño and actress Eva Longoria.

Bill Mattison, a professor at The Catholic University of America, told the Register that the campus has “a phenomenal spirit of joyful anticipation.”

He said CUA students and professors were carrying out the #WalkWithFrancis initiative through promoting prayer — including Masses in Spanish (the language the Pope will celebrate in) — lectures on topics close to the Pope’s heart and acts of Christian service. A thousand undergraduate students also pledged to participate in various service activities led by the campus ministry office, such as cleaning up parks, visiting the elderly or working at homeless shelters.

The campus will be shut down on the day of Blessed Junípero’s canonization. More than 25,000 tickets have been distributed for the outdoor Mass at the basilica, where more than 1,000 priests and 250 bishops will be in attendance. More than 3,000 seminarians and novices will be in attendance. Some of the seminarians for the Archdiocese of Washington will also be serving for the Mass.

“I think the seminarians are looking forward to seeing someone they want to model themselves after as priests, in a lot of respects,” said Father Carter Griffin, vice rector for the archdiocese’s St. John Paul II Seminary.

More than 50,000 tickets have been set aside for people to watch the Pope’s address to Congress on the Capitol’s West Lawn. Sarah Swinehart, spokeswoman for House Speaker John Boehner, said the Pope’s speech to the whole of Congress represents a dream the Catholic lawmaker has had for 20 years. If there is time, she said the Pope will also give an address to the gathering outside from the speaker’s balcony.

Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., a Catholic who also co-chairs the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, told the Register that he hopes the Holy Father will speak about the need to protect life, marriage, religious freedom, immigration and care for the poor, among other issues related to human dignity.

“I certainly expect Pope Francis will make people on both sides of the aisle uncomfortable,” Lipinski said, which could help lawmakers examine themselves and see where God is calling them.

“I certainly hope it would really bring Catholics together on things that members on both sides of the aisle can work on together … truly promoting and protecting every individual.”