Portlanders React To Pope’s Address To Congress

He reminded Congress of its responsibility to “protect and defend human life at every stage of its development”.

Two of the city’s top Democrats used Pope Francis’ speech to Congress on Thursday to reaffirm their position immigration, inequality and the treatment of refugees who seek asylum from the United States.

In an example of Republican wariness of the pope’s climate change stance, a conservative Republican US congressman, Paul Gosar of Arizona, has said he will boycott the address over the pope’s views on climate change. Did he neglect to bring up any issues you would have liked him to address?

The sergeant at arms intoned “Mr Speaker, the Pope of the Holy See”, and Francis made his way up the centre aisle in his white robes, moving slowly as politicians applauded enthusiastically, some lowering their heads in bows. “The timing of this speech about the problems the country and the world faces – the role the USA can play in that – couldn’t come at a better time”.

Jason Berry, religion writer who has is in DC covering the Pope’s visit for GlobalPost.

“In the context of answering this question in the past, the president has noted his concerns with the way that the death penalty has been applied”, Earnest said. “People of good will must work together to advance the common good”, the former Florida governor tweeted. “I call for a courageous and responsible effort to “redirect our steps” and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity”.

In 2008, then-President George W. Bush was making a speech in Baghdad when Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw his shoes at Bush.

Pope Francis has called for an end to the death penalty worldwide, favoring rehabilitation over capital punishment, Al Jazeera is reporting.

“Your holiness, welcome, really glad that you’re here”, Boehner said, as seen in a video posted by Politico.

“We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners”, said the pope, who was born in Argentina.

The pope had the option of remaining on Capitol Hill to dine with American leadership, but instead chose to visit Washington’s oldest parish and to meet with members of the national Catholic service organization which provides disaster relief and aid to the poor.