Miami native Gloria Estefan is among the star-studded opening acts who will perform ahead of Pope Francis' Mass celebration at New York City's iconic Madison Square Garden Friday evening.
Mass at the Garden, which has a seating capacity of more than 19,000, will take place at 6 p.m.. According to a report from The New York Times, a lucky 40,000 people received the free tickets which were distributed via lottery to the more than 80,000 who requested them. Some of those tickets turned up for sale on Craigslist and eBay, some asking as much as $500 apiece.
The two-hour concert, entitled "A Journey in Faith," will begin at 3 p.m. Other scheduled performers include Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Hudson, Kelli O'Hara and the St. Charles Borromeo Choir.
Francis wraps up his U.S. visit this weekend in Philadelphia, where he will speak in front of Independence Hall and celebrate Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to close out a big Catholic families rally.
