Pope Delivers Historic Address To Congress, Urges Lawmakers To Embrace Migrants
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Standing before 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 of the legislators.
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.
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Entering a House chamber packed with Supreme Court justices, Cabinet officials and lawmakers of both parties, Francis united the oft-warring factions before he opened his mouth as the crowd stood to deliver a standing ovation.
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 enthusiastically, some inclining their heads in bows.
Introducing himself at the Capitol as "a son of this great continent,'' the Argentine pope, reading his remarks slowly in English, summoned U.S. lawmakers to defend and preserve the dignity of all Americans.
"Each son or daughter of a given country has a mission, a personal and social responsibility,'' Francis said in his opening remarks. "Your own responsibility as members of Congress is to enable this country, by your legislative activity, to grow as a nation.''
The pope 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.
Lawmakers of all political backgrounds and religious affiliations eagerly welcomed the pope, pledging to pause from the bickering and dysfunction that normally divide them and hear him out.
Yet Francis spoke to a Congress that has deadlocked on immigration legislation at a time when there are more than 11 million people in the U.S. illegally and when some lawmakers have balked at Obama administration plans to accept more of the migrants from Syria and elsewhere who are now flooding Europe.
Indeed, Francis arrived at a moment of particular turmoil for Congress, with a partial government shutdown looming next week unless lawmakers can resolve a dispute over funding for Planned Parenthood related to the group's practices providing fetal tissue for research.
Boehner himself, who invited Francis to speak and met with him privately beforehand, is facing a brewing revolt from tea party members who've threatened to force a floor vote on whether the speaker can keep his job.
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.''
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.
"A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms,'' Francis said.
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.
Francis, the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, recalled that America itself was founded by immigrants, that many lawmakers are descended from foreigners and said that new generations must not "turn their back on our neighbors.''
Given an ovation when he spoke of the Golden Rule, he said, "Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated.''
He reiterated his stance on climate change, "the environmental deterioration caused by human activity.''
"I am convinced that we can make a difference and I have no doubt that the United States and this Congress have an important role to play,'' he said.
Yet in calling for action on the climate and to combat poverty, Francis took care to insist he was not anti-business, as some conservatives have suggested. He quoted a Catholic teaching document calling business "a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving the world.''
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.
Republicans, in particular, also loudly applauded as Francis asserted the importance of family life and bemoaned that "fundamental relationships are being called into question as is the very basis of marriage and the family.'' The Catholic Church opposes gay marriage, recently legalized by the Supreme Court.
Francis also criticized the arms trade, significant before Congress because the United States is the world's largest exporter of weapons.
In his speech, the pope also cited President Abraham Lincoln, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., social activist Dorothy Day and writer Thomas Merton.
"Three sons and a daughter of this land, four individuals and four dreams: Lincoln, liberty; Martin Luther King, liberty in plurality and non-exclusion; Dorothy Day, social justice and the rights of persons; and Thomas Merton, the capacity for dialogue and openness to God," he said. "Four representatives of the American people."
Francis hailed Lincoln for defending liberty during the Civil War and King for fostering the dream of full rights for Americans of all races.
"I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of 'dreams,'" he said. "Dreams which lead to action, to participation, to commitment. Dreams which awaken what is deepest and truest in the life of a people."
Lawmakers from the Tri-State area said the speech was a special moment.
"It just in and of itself is a pretty extraordinary moment. The energy, the spirit in the room -- Washington, D.C., for it to be a city people think of as gridlock and intractable differences, it was a really unifying time, and I think the pope really brought about a spirit that was tremendous," Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., told WCBS 880.
"The Holy Father's address to Congress was inspiring and uplifting to Catholics and non-Catholics alike," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement. "He has such optimism in human nature and in the future, and is calling upon our better angels to achieve the best goodness we can for humankind. It was a unique experience that I will never forget."
"He has given a voice to the voiceless and challenged leaders from around the world to confront global challenges head on," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in a statement. "Today, the Pope continued his groundbreaking papacy and challenged the United States Congress to make lasting progress on important issues including climate change, poverty, and the humanitarian crisis abroad."
At Xavier High School in Manhattan, students watched the speech, many saying they were moved by Francis' words, WCBS 880's Sean Adams reported.
"I think it was amazing," said Joe, a sophomore. "He talked about so many important things, just like that America is still the land of dreams."
Justin, a senior, was also touched by the patriotic references to the United States.
"My mom was an immigrant coming here, and she came here for all the same reasons everybody else did: to make a better life, for freedom," he said. "And he described that perfectly in every word I could think of. It was just incredible the feeling that I felt when he was speaking."
After his address, the pope appeared on a Capitol balcony and briefly addressed a cheering crowd of thousands below on the lawn and the Mall beyond.
"Buenos dias,'' he called out, and the crowd thundered its response. "God bless America!'' he concluded, as he had in the House chamber.
Afterward, Francis spoke to roughly 400 people at St. Patrick's Church in downtown Washington, addressing parishioners, people served by Catholic Charities and choirs from two local high schools.
He then helped serve lunch to homeless people who are regularly fed by Catholic Charities.
The pope left Andrews Air Force Base on the American Airlines plane dubbed "Shepherd One" at 4:17 p.m. as another group of onlookers cheered him on. His flight arrived at Kennedy Airport at 5:08 p.m.
Francis' visit to the Big Apple will include a prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Thursday evening. On Friday, he will address the United Nations General Assembly, participate in an interfaith service at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, visit a school in East Harlem, ride in a motorcade through Central Park and celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden.
He will leave New York on Saturday morning for Philadelphia.
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