United States House Speaker John Boehner shakes hands with Pope Francis. (Photo : Reuters)
Pope Francis arrived on Sept. 24, Thursday, at Capitol Hill, Wash., on a mission of preaching peace to the congress, which in recent years has suffered major political divides.
On the third day of his United States visit, Pope Francis received an exuberant reception at the historic chamber of the House of Representatives which was filled with aides, lawmakers and other invited guests, New York Times reported.
In his discourse, Pope Francis contributed to the political differences reigning in the political realms of the congress. As he spoke, the pope requested American leaders to put away their political differences and embrace America's own children, NBC reported.
Talking more on responsibilities, Pope Francis said that everyone had an obligation and it meant that the responsibility of members of congress was to enable the U.S. as a country, by legislative activity, grow as a nation. He also urged members of the congress to avoid the common temptation of discarding whatever proved troublesome.
Moreover, Pope Francis also conversed on the issue of same-sex marriages referring it as an opposed traditional catholic priority. Additionally, he said that the faithful had an obligation of opposing the death penalty and creating a society that is more equitable.
Francis, who serves as a leader of 1.2 billion Catholics, is in the U.S. for a six-day visit and was the first pontiff to address the congress in a joint member meeting. Meanwhile, Pope Francis faces limits of playing the role of a political figure.
