Pope Live Stream Madison Square Garden: How To Watch Francis Celebrate Mass At 'A Journey In Faith'

Pope Francis was scheduled to lead Mass Friday night in New York City's famous Madison Square Garden. The final stop on the pontiff's quick tour of the Big Apple, the event was expected to draw up to 20,000 worshipers. If you didn't nab one of those precious tickets, don't fret -- you can load up a live stream of his remarks, which start at 6 p.m. The show itself starts at 3 p.m.

Francis arrived in Washington, D.C., Wednesday and left for New York Thursday afternoon. During his 40 hours in the city, he was set to lead evening prayer at St. Patrick's Cathedral, address the United Nations General Assembly, take part in a multi-religious service at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, visit an urban Catholic school in Harlem and ride through Central Park, according to his schedule.

After all of that was his largest public appearance at the historic stadium, which opened in 1968 and is known as the world's most famous arena. Billy Joel is the current resident musician, but the arena has seen everything from the NBA Draft and Republican National Convention to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Johnny Cash, Led Zepplin and Elvis Presley have all performed there.

Click here for the official live stream.

Madison Square Garden calls Pope John Paul II's 1979 visit one of the arena's defining moments. He led a youth rally there "where 19,000 teenagers joined the pope as he was entertained by music and song," the New York Sun reported. This time with Pope Francis was due to include similar fanfare. Harry Connick Jr., Gloria Estefan and Jennifer Hudson were among the artists due to perform for the crowd.

When the pontiff arrives, he's expected to drive around the arena in a golf cart. He'll likely be wearing green and hold the ferula, or staff, that Pope Paul VI did in 1965, the New York Times reported.