Aside from his reminding representatives and senators of their obligations, during his 45 minute address, Francis touched on the causes of war and the need for environmental action. “Our efforts must aim at restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and of peoples”, he said later on in the speech.
Advertisement
Rep. Martha McSally, R-Tucson, focused on the tone as much as the topics.
“In recent centuries, millions of people came to this land to pursue their dream of building a future in freedom”, he said.
But when they start talking about immigration and climate change in the upcoming election, will they remember what the pope said?
The pope did provide a few points that would satisfy conservatives.
“We know there has to be a debate on immigration-nobody denies that”, she said. But after he had a chance to read the transcript, Schweikert praised it as what he called a “life document”.
But the pope did not make any specific appeal on the topic of marriage and also cautioned against fundamentalism: “We must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind”.
Aware of the diversity in the crowd, the pope added to his traditional request that the public pray for him, saying, “And if among you there are a few who don’t believe or can not pray, I ask you to please wish good things for me“. Earlier this month, he announced that the upcoming Year of Mercy would be a window of time, during which women who have had abortions will have an easier time seeking forgiveness for the church.
Before heading to New York, the Pope went to Washington’s Saint Patrick Church where he met with a group of homeless persons.
Outside the Capitol, thousands of Francis supporters joined to watch the speech on jumbotrons setup around the National Mall.
Cheers rang out in the crowded chamber whenever the pope referred to immigration. “And that immigrants can have, as he says, political justice, humanitarian justice, in which we can all live with equality and that there will be no segregation like there is now”. “I am confident that we can do this”.
The pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is himself the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina. Many lawmakers’ tweets, too, reflected their political orientation.
Still, Gosar said he gives “kudos when kudos are deserved”.
Students at one Catholic school were riveted by the pontiff’s address at the U.S. Capitol.
Advertisement
Gosar continued to criticize the pope for not highlighting the threats to Christians in a few countries, but Gallego challenged that statement. He is the first pope in history to address a joint session of Congress.
