Pope Francis urges Congress during joint meeting to embrace migrants
WASHINGTON -- Standing before a rapt Congress, Pope Francis issued a ringing call to action on behalf of immigrants Thursday, urging lawmakers to embrace "the stranger in our midst" as he became the first pontiff in history to address a joint meeting at the U.S. Capitol.
Referencing the migration crisis in Europe as well as the United States' own struggle with immigration from Latin America, Francis summoned lawmakers "to respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal."
"We must not be taken aback by their numbers but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best as we can to their situation," Francis urged.
Pope Francis on Congress' responsibilities:
He was welcomed enthusiastically to a House chamber packed with Supreme Court justices, Cabinet officials, and lawmakers of both parties, uniting the bickering factions before he even opened his mouth as all stood to cheer his arrival. The sergeant at arms intoned "Mr. Speaker, the pope of the Holy See" and Francis made his way up the center aisle in his white robes, moving slowly as lawmakers applauded, some inclining their heads in bows.
Francis asked the crowd to pray for him, as he always does. Speaking in Spanish, he added a line to acknowledge that not everyone there was a believer. "If among you there are some who don't believe or who cannot pray, I ask that you send good wishes my way," he said, to tumultuous applause.
"God bless America!" he concluded, as he had in the House chamber.
Thursday's speech was the latest highlight for the pope's whirlwind three-day visit to Washington, the first stop on a three-city U.S. tour. Late Thursday, he moves on to New York.
House Speaker John Boehner greets Pope Francis:
Introducing himself at the Capitol as "a son of this great continent," the Argentine pope, reading his remarks slowly in English, spoke from the same dais where presidents deliver their State of the Union speeches. Behind him sat Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner, the first and second in line to the presidency, both Catholics. Outside, tens of thousands watched on giant screens erected on the Capitol's West Lawn, and many more were watching on TV around the world.
Pope on climate change:
He advocated abolition of the death penalty, something that enjoys widespread support from a number of lawmakers of both parties at the federal level, and spoke out against fundamentalism of all kinds, while urging care in combating it.
Many lawmakers had vowed to preserve decorum throughout the speech and members of both parties listened intently, yet they did not completely contain their reactions. The mention of climate change drew standing cheers from Democrats while Republicans stood to applaud the reference to abortion. One Democratic House member let out a whoop of delight at the pope's call to abolish the death penalty.
On immigration, Francis urged lawmakers - and the United States as a whole - not to be afraid of migrants but to welcome them as fellow human beings, not things that can be discarded just because they are troublesome.
Pope on "fear of foreigners":
Francis, the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, recalled that America itself was founded by immigrants, that many lawmakers are descended from foreigners and that that new generations must not "turn their back on our neighbors."
A look outside the Capitol:
After speaking in the House chamber Francis was to stop by the Capitol's Statuary Hall and its statue of Father Serra, the 18th-century missionary whom Francis elevated to sainthood Wednesday in the first canonization on U.S. soil.
Pope Francis on abortion:
Later, outside the Catholic Charities building in Washington, the pope walked among tables where homeless and needy people were eating and blessed the meal. He spoke to about 400 people at St. Patrick Church, including the homeless, parishioners of the church and Catholic Charities staff. He waded into the crowd and hugged people.
