By: Chelsea Beimfohr
In a historic address, Pope Francis spoke to a joint session of Congress this morning in Washington, D.C. He addressed several politically divisive American issues through Bible lessons and examples of American heroes. We have broken down some of Pope Francis’s key points from his speech below:
- Undocumented immigrants are human beings, Americans should not fear them.
- The world is an increasing place of fundamentalism and “brutal atrocities,” we must be attentive; no religion is excused.
- Wealth should be shared and “the creation of jobs is an essential part of its service to the common good.”
- We need to “protect and defend human life at every stage of its development;” reverence for life also means opposition to the death penalty.
- Mankind is contributing to global warming and we are responsible for averting “environmental deterioration caused by human activity.
Pope Francis also challenged a polarized Congress to work together to solve problems of ordinary Americans, saying “I am convinced we can make a difference.”
Following his speech, Pope Francis had lunch with the homeless at a charity event in Washington. Tonight the pope will board a plane to New York and lead a prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Friday morning about 50 University of Georgia students will leave Athens and travel to Philadelphia to attend Sunday Mass with Pope Francis.
“I’m so excited, it hasn’t even settled in yet,” Julia Moldenhawer said when asked about traveling to see the pope. “He’s going to give Mass and consecrate the blessed sacrement, which all priests do, but he’s the pope so it’s really special.”
For the official schedule of the 2015 Apostolic Journey of Pope Francis To The United States of America, click here.
