Thursday, the pope delivered a speech to Congress. Many lawmakers – especially Catholics like Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Oh.) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fl.) – were moved to tears by the pope’s historic remarks.
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McNab and other young people with whom EFE spoke pointed to parts of the pope’s speech where he spoke about the fight against climate change, creating a more egalitarian society and issuing a call to support immigrants.
Francis steered clear of such controversies, alluding only in passing to the Catholic Church’s opposition to abortion when he noted, to applause, “our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development”.
The cameras at times provided not only a glimpse of Pope Francis, but of reactions from the audience.
For the first time in history a Pontiff addressed a joint meeting of Congress in Washington DC at the House Chamber.
This gesture pleased many of those present, including Kevin McNab and Amessha Sampat, who are not Catholic but are interested in Pope Francis as a leader with great worldwide influence.
Jason Berry, religion writer who has is in DC covering the Pope’s visit for GlobalPost.
When he left the Capitol building, however, he was greeted by thousands of people calling “Father” and chanting, “What do we want?”
In this Saturday, September 19, 2015 photo, Pope Francis boards his flight to La Habana, Cuba, where he will start a 10-day trip including the United States, at Rome’s Fiumicino global airport.
The Pope called for the abolishment of the death penalty.
In the same address, the pontiff renewed his call for ending the death penalty, and for better treatment of the poor and disadvantaged. “I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of ‘dreams.'” Dreams which lead to action, to participation, to commitment.
“A good political leader is one who, with the interests of all in mind, seizes the moment in a spirit of openness and pragmatism”, Francis told lawmakers.
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“It was so nice to hear from him, to speak directly to the people who have the power to change all that”, Ruiz said. The pope reminded the U.S. Congress that this nation is comprised of immigrants. His message in the United States is for all of us: to care for the weak and the vulnerable, to do justice in all our dealings and to be good Samaritans to the wounded of this world, to bring healing and love where there is none.
