Pope Francis gears up for first trip to the US

The group from Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora will fly to Philadelphia to meet up with other high schoolers, and see the Pope say mass this coming weekend. That is not counting the crowds that will turn out in Washington and New York.

A Roman Catholic teacher fired over her same-sex marriage says she has been invited to the White House to help welcome Pope Francis.

“I’m not sure what he’s going to say to Congress, but I’m especially intrigued by that”, said Vargo, who will watch Pope Francis speak via a Jumbotron situated outside the U.S. Capitol Building. “I think that we also have to locally be called to action”.

On Wednesday morning, President Barack Obama will welcome the pope to the White House.

This trip will be the first time Pope Francis has been to the United States.

For them, Pope Francis is worth an all night bus ride from Georgia Tech’s campus to Philadelphia, where luxury accommodations do not await them. The group, which also will include residents from Menomonie, Marshfield and La Crosse, plans to take part in the Festival of Families on Saturday and a Papal Mass for the World Meeting of Families on Sunday. I don’t think he’s out to change church teaching.

Francis, the first from South America to be elevated to pope, has been a transformational leader for the Catholic Church.

In the two and a half years since his Papacy began the Pope has gained many fans both inside the religion and out.

His ideological messages are clearly getting under the skin of some in Washington and those who aim to be.

Just 23 percent view Pope Francis unfavorably, though this number has doubled since December 2013, when the newly-elected Francis enjoyed a disapproval rating of only 12 percent. “This is kind of one of those once in a lifetime events where you can see the Pope”, said Spear, “But not only that experience, nearly a week of great speakers and just meet a lot of other families who are trying to do the right thing in the world“.

Bishop Lennon told Flanagan the Pope is resonating with catholics, and non-catholics, because people identify with him and that he understands the challenges and burdens that many face today.

” I feel like he brings a bigger picture to us all“.