When Pope Francis visited Washington
Mark Zimmermann
Pope Francis made history during his Sept. 22-24, 2015 pastoral visit to Washington, the first stop on his first visit to the United States.
Making history as the first pontiff to address a joint meeting of Congress, Pope Francis encouraged lawmakers to work together for the common good, on behalf of the poor and immigrants, and in defense of human life and the environment.
“The challenges facing us today call for a renewal of that spirit of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States,” the pope said.
Noting how immigrants come to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones, he urged the lawmakers to see immigrants as people worthy of respect and compassion.
As he addressed Congress, Pope Francis praised the legacy of four noted Americans who he said demonstrated how to build a better future for the country: President Abraham Lincoln; civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; and two 20th century Catholics – Dorothy Day, who devoted her life to serving the poor, and Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk who promoted world peace and dialogue with and respect for other religions.
Then immediately afterward, the Holy Father visited with some of the poor and the homeless served by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, and the volunteers and staff members engaged in that work.
Pope Francis first met at St. Patrick’s Church in Washington next to Catholic Charities’ headquarters with clients and the agency’s employees. He prayed that God would give them strength to keep going on their life’s journey. “May the Lord bless each one of you, and may he also bless Catholic Charities and the faith-filled work they do for the poor and marginalized of your city,” the pope said.
Msgr. John Enzler, then the president and CEO of Catholic Charities, said, “Think about where he (Pope Francis) has been today – (addressing) the Senate and Congress. He leaves where there are powerful people to meet with those who have no voice, the weak, the vulnerable. His visit has given us a huge message of the call we have to take care of the poor.”
Then the pope stepped outside to say a prayer before a lunch served by Catholic Charities’ St. Maria’s Meals Program for about 300 clients, and he moved through the crowd, smiling and greeting the people gathered there.
