CAPITOL HILL - Pope Francis used his address to a deeply divided U.S. Congress to call on the lawmakers to renew “a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously for the common good.”
"A political society endures when it seeks, as a vocation, to satisfy common needs by stimulating the growth of all its members, especially those in situations of greater vulnerability or risk. Legislative activity is always based on care for the people," Francis said, in the first papal address in Congress' history.
"Your own responsibility as members of Congress is to enable this country, by your legislative activity, to grow as a nation," the pope said. "You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics.”
The pope touched on several sensitive issues during his 50-minute speech, including the refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe, the urgent need to coordinate global action to control climate change, and the excesses of capitalism and materialism.
He paused several times as waves of applause interrupted his reading, but observers in the chamber saw that not everyone joined the enthusiastic display. Partisan divides among members of Congress — between liberals and conservatives, between Democrats and Republicans — were reflected in their response to different parts of the pope's message.
"You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens."
After his speech, the pope appeared on a balcony of the Capitol, with leaders of both main political parties beside him, and greeted the crowd — a tightly packed sea of faces stretching several hundred meters from the historic building. The Argentine-born pontiff asked for God's blessing for all the children present, thanked everyone for welcoming him and then ended his prayerful remarks with "God bless America," which brought boisterous cheers.
Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can to view it offline.
Tens of thousands of people watched the proceedings from the Capitol lawn on Jumbotron screens. Hundreds more were gathered inside the packed House of Representatives chamber, including Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices and lawmakers' special guests.
The pope, speaking slowly and carefully in accented English, paused several times as waves of applause interrupted his reading, but observers in the chamber noted that not everyone joined the enthusiastic display.
The Argentine-born church leader began by telling the lawmakers he was speaking through them to the American people – "the many thousands of men and women who strive each day to do an honest day’s work, to bring home their daily bread, to save money and, one step at a time, to build a better life for their families."
"These are men and women who are not concerned simply with paying their taxes, but in their own quiet way sustain the life of society," Francis said. "They generate solidarity by their actions, and they create organizations which offer a helping hand to those most in need."
The pontiff spoke of the need to respect indigenous people, saying that, tragically, “the rights of those who were here long before us were not always respected.”
He also reminded the lawmakers of the United States’ immigrant roots and warned against hostility to or harsh treatment of newcomers.
“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 we can to their situation. To respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal,” Pope Francis said.
Francis acknowledged that the current refugee crisis, “a magnitude not seen since the Second World War ... presents us with great challenges and many hard decisions.”
Sorry, but your browser cannot support embedded video of this type, you can to view it offline.
He invoked the Golden Rule, saying: “Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves.”
That comment, which referenced the Syrian refugee crisis, drew the largest applause from the crowd on the lawn.
The pope, who is scheduled to visit a Philadelphia correctional facility on Sunday, reiterated the church’s support for the sanctity of human life and the end of the death penalty.
But Francis also encouraged lawmakers to allow a convicted lawbreaker the chance to reform and the hope of release.
"Today I want to pray with you. I want to unite myself with you because I need your support." -