Before a joint session of Congress Thursday, Pope Francis preached a message of social justice, while also attempting to encourage consensus on divisive issues.
“I am grateful for the invitation to address the joint session of congress in the land of the free and the home of the brave,” he said.
The pope incorporated the lives of four Americans – Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton – to handle politically-charged topics like extremism, immigration, the refugee crisis in Syria, abortion, capital punishment and the future of families.
The pope expressed his concern that the world was becoming a place of increased violence and hatred, allowing different forms of extremism to thrive.
“We know that no religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism,” he said. “This means that we must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind. A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms.”
The Pope encouraged Americans to follow King’s message of freedom for all, by welcoming immigrants into the country and finding ways to help the refugee crisis in Syria.
“When the stranger in our midst appeals to us, we must not repeat the sins and the errors of the past. We must resolve now to live as nobly and as justly as possible, as we educate new generations not to turn their back on our “neighbors” and everything around us.”
“Let us remember the Golden Rule,” he continued. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
That Golden Rule was then applied to reaffirm his beliefs against abortion and the death penalty. Pope Francis said he looked to protect human life at all stages of development. Further, he believed that punishment must “never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation.”
The Pope finished by expressing his concern for the future of families and relationships, which he said were being “threatened.”
“Fundamental relationships are being called into question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family,” he said. “I can only reiterate the importance and, above all, the richness and the beauty of family life.”
Local legislators in attendance applauded the pope and supported his efforts to open dialogue on historically divisive topics.
“Today, Pope Francis delivered an inclusive and affirming message to Congress about the basic obligations we have to one another and our common home, earth,” said U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. in a statement. “He also urged members of both parties to work in cooperation for the common good.”
U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6th Dist., Montgomery/Berks Counties, said he supported the Pope’s efforts to create dialogue on historically dividing issues in a pragmatic way.
Joining Costello for the address was Jeannine Ferrante, an 86-year old West Pottsgrove Township resident, who has been an active member of the St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Parish in Stowe for over 65 years.
Costello appreciated the effort to “forge ahead” toward creating consensus on these issues, by appealing to those in attendance on a humanitarian level, he said. He further connected to Pope Francis’ “renewed sense of cooperation that respected for our differences of conscience,” he said.
“It exceeded my expectations in terms of how effective the message can be because it was a message rooted in respect for difference for humanity,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-7th Dist., Delaware/Chester County, spoke highly of Pope Francis’ address to the joint chambers, saying the room itself and the pope’s presentation was tied so closely to American principles.
“It was historic and powerful,” Meehan said. “(He) found a way to create a culture of hope and a culture of care.”
The representative, a 25-year member of St. Bernadette of Lourdes Parish in Drexel Hill, said the address held special personal meaning as well.
“(It) is symbolic to me because he is choosing to go to places that resonate with the creation of the ideals that he discussed,” Meehan said.
“It was an historic visit,” U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said in an email. “and I am so pleased that Monsignor Schlert, of the Allentown Diocese, could be my guest for this special occasion.”
“It was a remarkable moment in the history of Congress to have the pontiff, on his first visit, deliver a message of hope and peace while still taking us to the woodshed over the division in Congress,” said U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-New Jersey. ” When he spoke of the divine rule, ‘do unto other as you want them to do unto you,’ it was not by coincidence. He was specially talking about things on which we are divided like climate change and the impoverished. It was quite a moment.”
“We need to keep and open heart and mind while focusing on the issues that divide us while trying to also focus on those that untie us,” he continued. “It was a very good day for Congress for to have him bring us the message of hope and peace.”
