President Obama Welcomes Pope Francis To The United States

The visit will kick off a six-day American tour in which he’ll meet the President, address Congress, speak to the United Nations, headline star-studded celebrations, lead thousands in prayer and visit with immigrants, prisoners and the homeless. SLU is sending the group to Washington D.C.to watch a live broadcast of the Pope’s address to a joint session of congress, the first Pope to ever do so.

“I told him, ‘I’m the one following the Church, ‘” Pope Francis said.

“I know it’s not just a once in a lifetime thing, it’s never happened before and it might not happen again”, Bramanti said.

Hoosier Angelique Walker-Smith will be there. “This is an opportunity for two men who have so many values in common to talk about the efforts that they are taking in their respective and quite different roles to advance those shared values”. 25,000 are expected to attend – majority standing, not sitting, on the lawn.

“Yeah, I think it’s also very important though that we understand how we are the most humanitarian country in the world”, said the Kentucky senator. “He’s such a unique pope”.

Air traffic control officials will use the name “Shepherd One” when speaking to the American Airlines captain flying the plane.

When asked for more details, Norton said: “We’re limited with the details we can provide because of security”.

Bestowing on Francis an honor that few foreign dignitaries receive, both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden personally greeted the 78-year-old Argentine on the tarmac after the Alitalia papal plane landed at Joint Base Andrews near the capital.

While the White House was seemingly thrilled to welcome the Pope, Mr. President might have the slightest ulterior motive in the meeting- and a White House aide is spilling!

Still, he said, “There really is nothing quite like being at Mass with Holy Father”.

Early Tuesday morning Pope Francis celebrated mass in the Basilica of the National Sanctuary of the Virgen of the Copper Charity, where he called on Cubans to show compassion to others.

The U.S. Conference of Bishops chartered the Boeing 777 to transport Francis while he’s traveling in the United States. Hear from them Wednesday evening on Eyewitness News.