Pope Urges Compassion For Immigrants

The Pope also called for a worldwide end to the death penalty – the U.S. is one of the few countries that still practises it.

“In a word, if we want security, let us give security”, he continued.

Our world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the Second World War. But his relevant message to Congress was both more general and more pointed.

The most interesting thing Pope Francis has said thus far on his trip to America is these comments to U.S. Catholic bishops, urging them to avoid taking “harsh” stances on contentious issues….

“After speaking with the congressmen, the senators, he’s making the decision to go and have lunch with the homeless at the Catholic Charities”, said Father Atusameso, adding that this was uncharacteristic of his predecessors.

“I was honored by the speaker to get a special pass to get on the floor”, Latham said in an interview Friday. She released a statement saying: “Standing in the very heart of our democracy, Pope Francis spoke to the better angels of our nature and of the American people”. This comes on the heels of recent anti-Muslim remarks made and defended by public figures in the USA including Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, who watched the speech from the gallery, seated close to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

“I am delighted to have had the opportunity to hear @Pontifex share his message of faith and love today in our nation’s Capitol”, Dr Carson tweeted. “Thank you, @Pontifex”.

Some of those seeking to be the next president have been cautious about the Pope.

“If politics must truly be at the service of the human person, it follows that it can not be a slave to the economy and finance”, Pope Francis said. Adults aged 18 to 34 backed the pope on climate change to the tune of 69 percent to 18 percent, while approval trends downward among older age groups, to just 52 percent to 33 percent approval among those 65 years or older.

Karen Bass, a Democratic representative from California, said the message behind the issues he raised – immigration, poverty and the environment – was that “it’s our responsibility”. On Thursday, a member of Boehner’s chamber – Republican Paul Gosar of Arizona – even boycotted the Pope’s appearance because he disagreed with Francis on climate change. “But to promote questionable science as Catholic dogma is ridiculous”, he wrote.

“The pope certainly recognizes the oppression and persecution of Christians in the Middle East”, Donovan said. Chitwood said when Catholic churches in Europe were charging people to visit or stay overnight, Pope Francis urged them to stop playing the role of a business and start opening their doors to the poor and refugees.