Pope Francis will be in New York this time next week, and an expert tells News 12 that the security surrounding the papal visit poses many challenges.

Edmund Hartnett is the former Yonkers police commissioner, and served when Pope Benedict visited St. Joseph's Seminary in 2008. He says it took six months of planning for a visit that lasted less than four hours.

"It's a logistical nightmare," Hartnett says. "It's coordination of epic proportions."

The NYPD is expected to have its hands full when Pope Francis is in New York City, since his visit comes at the same time as the United Nations general assembly and a Beyonce concert in Central Park. The pope will speak at the U.N. Friday morning.

Hartnett believes that the pope could create his own challenges for those charged with protecting him, since he will likely want to engage and interact with the public.

Hartnett offers some advice for the hundreds of thousands of people going to see the pope: bring patience. He also reminds people that police officers will be present to keep everyone safe.