Overall, about 40 percent of U.S. Catholics are Hispanic, according to the survey.

Pope Francis asked the bishops of Germany to continue working together to find broader consensus on guidelines for allowing a Protestant married to a Catholic to receive the Eucharist.

"Those that are in the caravan, 75 percent of them won't be accepted," he added. "That's been the number over the years."

The multiyear encuentro process, which includes similar regional gatherings across the country, seeks to discern the needs, aspirations and faith practices of Hispanic Catholics in the United States.

Public rallies have been banned since September 2016, when dozens of demonstrators were killed.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl will be among a number of faith leaders on hand.