VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis confirmed Monday that he will make his first papal visit to the United States in September to attend an international meeting in Philadelphia on the theme of family, as part of an American journey that is also expected to include a stop in New York.

Francis has already traveled to the Middle East, Albania, South Korea, Brazil and elsewhere in his 20-month papacy, and his visit to the United States will come at a pivotal moment for the Roman Catholic Church. Weeks later, bishops are scheduled to hold a critical meeting at the Vatican that could make final changes in the church’s stance on issues like homosexuality and divorcees’ receiving communion.

“I wish to confirm, according to the wishes of the Lord, that in September of 2015, I will go to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families,” Francis said Monday as he opened a conference at the Vatican on the theme of marriage.

The trip may include a stop in New York. Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the head of the Holy See’s permanent observer mission to the United Nations, told The Associated Press last week, “If he comes to Philadelphia, he will come to New York.”