Critics counter, however, that prior to entering the Catholic Church, Francis studied chemistry in his native Argentina, though he was unable to obtain a university degree.
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In his address [for the full text, see the link below] the Pontiff openly prodded American lawmakers on immigration, climate change, arms trafficking, and the abolition of the death penalty. “In our country, obviously, the on-going conversation now is about the life of a child, and about how valuable children are with the Planned Parenthood videos and so many other things”. “He’s looking out at us and saying you all were immigrants at one time”. “I am confident that we can do this”.
“I call for a courageous and responsible effort to ‘redirect our steps, ‘ and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity”, Francis told the Republican-dominated chamber.
A steadily declining majority of Americans, including Catholics, support the death penalty. Front-runner Donald Trump says he would deport the 11 million undocumented immigrants if he were elected to the White House and has accused Mexico of sending rapists and other criminals across the border.
That passage would have come up 20 minutes into the speech, but Francis omitted it. It’s unclear whether that was purposeful or he inadvertently skipped it. Francis, who has said English is hard for him, spoke verbatim from his prepared remarks for the entirety of the rest of his speech. “And if there are among you any who do not believe or cannot pray, I ask you to please send good wishes my way”, said Pope Francis.
Speaking to a rare joint session, the Pope said immigrants should be treated “with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated”.
At a time when so many of our people are gripped with uncertainty about the future, the Pope reminded us that America has a special calling as a nation that is guided by high ideals and the moral aims to build a more flawless union and to make the world a better place.
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The pope said it’s our responsibility “to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development”, advocating to abolish the death penalty, adding, “Every life is sacred”.
