On Thursday, Pope Francis will address a joint session of Congress, stirring hope from the Hispanic community that he will help reignite the immigration debate with his remarks to lawmakers.
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The pope was welcomed at the White House on Wednesday morning, September 23 for an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn, followed by a 45-minute private meeting with Obama.
“What I think comes across with Pope Francis”, Sister Katarina Schuth said, “is that he is authentic, he means what he says, he has studied, he understands the issues that he’s talked about”.
Their assignment is to write down questions for Pope Francis if they had the chance to meet him.
After his speech, Francis waved to the crowd from the Truman Balcony, the president to his left and the first lady to his right.
“The pope is a singular figure and he has really stirred the souls of people all around the world”, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said according to the New York Times.
As CBS 2’s Derrick Blakley reports, it’s a change for any Pope to address climate change. Francis also called for safeguarding religious liberty and rejecting discrimination.
At another point, the Roman Catholic Church leader referenced the United States as a nation of immigrants, noting that he, too, is the “son of immigrants”.
Later in the day, Pope Francis will celebrate the Junipero Serra Canonization Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. “We still have time to make the changes needed to bring about “a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change”.
He said: “The efforts which were recently made to mend broken relationships and to open new doors to co-operation within our human family represent positive steps along the path of reconciliation, justice and freedom”.
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“It certainly is a value that is central to the founding of this country and as the President of the United States, and as someone who feels strongly about the values of this country he works every day to uphold them”, Earnest said. Reporter: These two young girls snapping a selfie today with pope Francis. “He doesn’t post himself, but it’s amusing because most kids have Twitter and it’s amusing that the pope, the religious leader, has one also”. That’s why people of all backgrounds and faiths feel connected to this Pope.
