Page 1 - atoday sept 24

On Top Of The News Email:news@arubatoday.com website: www.arubatoday.com Tel:+297 582-7800 Thursday, September 24, 2015

Pope Francis give the thumbs-up from the popemobile during a parade around the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Adoring Crowds Greet Pope in Nation’s Capital

JULIE PACE of whom have struggled faith to California. and other dignitaries at the and the United States.
NICOLE WINFIELD to come to terms with his The 78-year-old pontiff’s White House waiting so he The pope’s remarks were
Associated Press new social justice-minded whirlwind day in Washing- could spend time greeting brief, yet pointed.
WASHINGTON (AP) — direction for the Catholic ton enlivened the often sto- schoolchildren gathered Speaking in soft, halting
Cheered by jubilant Church. ic, politically polarized city. outside the Vatican’s dip- English, Francis said that
crowds across the na- He gently prodded the Excited crowds lined streets lomatic mission where he as the son of an immigrant
tion’s capital, Pope Fran- bishops to forgo “harsh near the White House to spent the night. family, he was “happy to
cis forged common cause and divisive language,” catch a glimpse of the smil- With flags snapping, color be a guest in this coun-
Wednesday with President while commending their ing and waving Francis as guard at attention and try, which was largely built
Barack Obama on climate “courage” in the face of he passed by in his open-air a military band playing, by such families.” The Ar-
change, immigration and the church’s sexual abuse “popemobile.” He seemed Francis stepped from his gentine pope was born
inequality, as the popular scandal — rhetoric that an- to draw energy from the modest Fiat onto the South to Italian parents who left
pontiff signaled he would gered victims he may meet cheering spectators, par- Lawn on a crisp fall morn- their home country before
not sidestep issues that with later in his trip. ticularly the children his se- ing that felt as optimistic he was born, and he has
have deeply divided Amer- Late in the day, Francis curity detail brought to him as his own persona. Pope been a forceful advocate
icans. — the first pope from the for a papal kiss and bless- and president stood on a for humane treatment of
On his first full day in the Americas — canonized Ju- ing. red-carpeted platform be- migrants.
United States, the pope nipero Serra, the famous In keeping with his repu- decked with red, white and
also reached out to Amer- 18th century Spanish friar tation as the “people’s blue bunting for the nation- Continued on page 4
ica’s 450 bishops, many who brought the Catholic pope,” Francis kept Obama al anthems of the Holy See