Pope Francis delivers historic address to Congress

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

Catholic Church Pope Francis delivered a historic address to a joint session of the United States Congress on Thursday, September 24, 2015, calling on Congress and the American people to take courageous action against climate change and the preservation of the earth, accept the stranger amidst them concerning immigrant refugees to the United States and reminding Congress that many of them come from immigrant families themselves, including Pope Francis, and commended the United States for its strong liberty spirit and leadership, citing four Americans for their leadership including Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merten.

Pope Francis also called on the abolishment of the death penalty as every life is sacred, to help the young with their problems, and to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development.

Pope Francis received many standing ovations during his speech to Congress.  Following his speech, Pope Francis  went outside to the balcony of the U.S. Capitol and waved and addressed over 50,000 strong.

Pope Francis is the first Pope to address the U.S. Congress in history.

On Wednesday, September 23rd, Pope Francis visited President Barack Obama at the White House.

Pope Francis is in the United States for a six days and visiting three cities, including Washington, D. C., New York City, and Philadephia, PA.