Joe Biden: ‘Pope Francis Is Challenging Us’

“Our backyard is not typically this crowded – but the size and spirit of today’s gathering is just a small reflection of the deep devotion of some 70 million American Catholics“. What stood out for you? Here in Washington, an example of Catholic Charities’ work is the St. Maria’s Meals program, which provides food and services to the homeless.

BARACK OBAMA: And in these gentle but firm reminders of our obligations to God and to one another, you are shaking us out of our complacency.

The program would extend deportation protections to parents of US citizens and permanent residents who have been in the country for some years, but is on hold after 26 states sued to block it.The Obama administration has repeatedly directed immigration agents to focus resources on serious criminal immigrants, people who pose a national security or public safety threat and those caught crossing the border illegally. The US Supreme Court in June legalised same-sex marriage across the US.

And there’s no way he’s not going to talk about climate change, according to Gerard Magill, Gallagher Chair for the Integration of Science, Theology, Philosophy and Law at Duquesne University.

“There are certain politicians who won’t even come to the address to Congress tomorrow because they don’t agree on his stance on ecology and the environment”, said Bishop Coyne. Some US Catholic churches are leasing out their lands for drilling by oil and gas companies, despite the Pope’s repeated calls to reduce fossil fuel use in order to combat climate change.

In a sign of respect Mr Obama made a rare breach of protocol by travelling from the White House to greed the Pope as he disembarked from his plane. During the ceremony, he addressed the crowd before meeting privately with the president.

Pope Francis spoke to Americans of all religions and classes this morning on the White House lawn.

As thousands go to the East Coast to get a glimpse of Pope Francis, he welcomes them with open arms, and goes beyond the barriers, to reach out to the people.

“This custom gift honors His Holiness’ tireless advocacy for the world’s most vulnerable”, the White House official said.

Obama gave Francis a metal dove sculpted from a piece of the Statute of Liberty that was salvaged during its 1886 restoration.

Bush hasn’t mentioned Francis directly but has been playing up the importance of Bush’s own Catholic faith through his social media accounts over the past 24 hours. And so they expected a simpatico meeting of two leaders with a lot of shared values. Massive crowds greeted the pontiff as he emerged from the White House complex, standing five or six deep on sidewalks.

HORSLEY: My pleasure, Renee.