Elementary school children in Harlem are sprucing things up for Pope Francis before his visit.

Third and fourth grade students at Saint Ann School in East Harlem on Tuesday cleaned and planted flowers in the first of many service projects.  

Six students from the school will even get to meet Pope Francis on September 25.

Parents, students and the principal are all equally excited about the Pope's visit and taking care of the environment.

"We have planters, we have trees, but even just adding flowers to make the neighborhood look better. It just makes it look nicer," said Steven Rodriguez, a parent volunteer.

"We have to take care of the environment just like the environment takes care of us," said Noah Rodriguez, a student volunteer.

"They came in and said, 'Ms. Mueller did you know Pope Francis donated 400 sleeping bags on his own birthday? Did you know he had a motorcycle and he gave it up? Did you know his favorite soccer team?' They knew all these facts about him and they cannot wait to meet him," said Saint Ann School Principal Hope Mueller.

The students will be meeting Pope Francis at nearby Our Lady Queen of Angels school.