AP Photos: Pope visits Congress, homeless
Pope Francis visited the nation’s capital on Thursday, becoming the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress and calling on the lawmakers to help immigrants “and embrace the stranger in our midst.”
The pope was welcomed enthusiastically to the House and asked lawmakers to welcome immigrants with compassion, abolish the death penalty and fight global warming. After the speech, Speaker John Boehner escorted him to a Capitol balcony where the pontiff waved to tens of thousands of admirers and asked them to pray for him.
The crowd, in listening to his speech to Congress, mostly was intent on hearing his words but applauded loudly when he he spoke about defending life at every stage of development.
The pope’s emphasis on helping the neediest continued when he greeted parishioners and homeless people at St. Patrick Church. He waded into the crowd and hugged people. He said there can be no justification for lack of housing.
Pope Francis also met with admirers at Catholic Charities.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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