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U.S. NEWS A3
Friday 25 September 2015
Pope Holds Historic Talk in
Congress, Visits New York
NICOLE WINFIELD share its immense wealth Pope Francis waves as he arrives at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to lead an evening prayer service,
ERICA WERNER with those less fortunate. Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York.
Associated Press He urged Congress and
NEW YORK (AP) — Pope the nation to abolish the (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Francis plunged into the death penalty, fight glob-
melting pot of New York al warming and embrace mined to remind the United foreigners, addressing the personal terms as a son of
after reminding the coun- immigrants. Lawmakers States of its foundations chamber and the Ameri- immigrants to “this great
try of its immigrant origins gave rousing ovations to as a country made up of can people beyond in continent.”q
in the first papal speech the leader of the world’s
before Congress on Thurs- Catholics despite obvious
day. Over an intense 40 disagreements over some
hours that started with an of his pleas.
evening prayer service After he addressed Con-
at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, gress, the first pontiff to
where he gave a deeply do so, he underscored his
meaningful thank you to message by traveling to
America’s nuns, he will ad- a downtown Washington
dress world leaders at the church, where he mingled
United Nations, participate with needy and homeless
in an interfaith service at people, blessed their noon-
the Sept. 11 memorial mu- time meal and walked
seum at ground zero and among them while they
celebrate Mass at Madison ate.
Square Garden. Soon after, he headed by
The pope, who’s making plane to New York, sec-
his first trip to the United ond stop on his three-city
States, also planned to first visit to the U.S. He ad-
visit a school on Friday and dresses the U.N. on Friday
take a processional drive and wraps up his visit this
through Central Park. weekend in Philadelphia,
The popular pontiff re- where he speaks in front
ceived a raucous wel- of Independence Hall and
come on his first visit to New celebrates Mass on the
York. Thousands of people Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
lined the streets leading to At the Capitol, the remark-
St. Patrick’s to greet him, able sight of the pope
cheering, waving flags speaking in the House
and adoringly chanting his chamber seemed to de-
name as he gestured to- light lawmakers of all per-
ward them from his pope- suasions, though he of-
mobile. On the steps of the fered an agenda more
recently spruced up ca- to Democrats’ liking. Be-
thedral, dignitaries includ- sides his focus on climate
ing Gov. Andrew Cuomo, change and immigration,
Mayor Bill de Blasio and he denounced arms sales
U.S. Sen. Charles Schum- and seemed to allude ap-
er welcomed him. Later, provingly to the Iran nu-
inside, nuns in the pews clear deal and recent ac-
erupted in applause when tions by President Barack
he thanked them for their Obama’s administration to
service. open relations with Cuba,
The pope opened his visit done with his urging.
to New York by expressing Republicans, too, heard
his solidarity with Muslims something to like in his ref-
following a Mecca pilgrim- erences to the sanctity of
age stampede in Saudi life and family relations, re-
Arabia in which more than minders that even the more
700 people were killed. He open Catholic Church over
offered a prayer for the which Francis presides still
victims from the St. Patrick’s condemns abortion and
altar. gay marriage.
“In this moment of prayer, For all the spectacle, it
I unite myself with you all in seemed unlikely the pope’s
prayer to God, our father, visit would break congres-
the all-powerful and merci- sional inertia on the issues
ful,” he said. dear to him, with no action
In Washington earlier Thurs- in sight from the Repub-
day, the pope had waded lican majority on global
into bitter disputes while warming or immigration.
speaking to Congress, But Francis, in his historic
entreating the nation to speech, seemed deter-
