Rendering of what the Basilica will look like for Pope Francis mass
— John Aaron (@JohnAaron草莓传媒) Current state of east portico at Basilica where Pope will celebrate mass, overlooking catholic u lawn
— John Aaron (@JohnAaron草莓传媒) Altar to be used by Pope being assembled. Designed by catholic u students and built by poolesville, md man
— John Aaron (@JohnAaron草莓传媒) 
WASHINGTON 鈥� With only days to go before Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the area looks more like a construction site or a concert venue than a church.
Workers are putting the finishing touches on everything at the basilica 鈥� located at 400 Michigan Ave. in Northeast 鈥斅爁rom the outdoor sanctuary on the East Portico of the Shrine, where Francis will celebrate Mass, to the University Mall of Catholic University of America, where 25,000 people will gather. This is first canonization Mass on U.S. soil.
The pope arrives 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22 and leaves 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. Pope Francis will visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Sept. 23.
鈥淥ne of the things that鈥檚 so exciting about this is we鈥檙e actually using a church,鈥� says Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not improvising, we鈥檙e extending that church.鈥�
Wuerl says extensive security barriers are going up for the Pope鈥檚 protection on the advice of the Secret Service. But Wuerl jokes, 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 also to keep him from running into the crowd and greeting people.鈥�
The preparations on the Catholic University mall include the placement of 15,000 seats, with the remainder of those attending having to stand.
Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the Basilica, admits there鈥檚 鈥渁n awful lot鈥� to be done before the big event Wednesday, but confidently adds, 鈥淭hey tell me that by Sunday everything should be together.鈥�
