Beginning on Sept. 22, Pope Francis visited the U.S for a six day trip. He became the fourth head of the Catholic Church to visit the U.S, nearly 50 years after Paul VI made the first visit by a Pope in October of 1965. Pope Francis is currently the 266th pope. He landed in the U.S for the first time at 4 p.m Sept.22 and was greeted by President Obama, Michelle Obama, their daughters, along with Joe Biden and his family.
During his six-day trip in America, Pope Francis visited Washington, New York, and Philadelphia. In Washington he did a first-ever address to joint meeting of Congress by a pontiff(pope). The following day, Pope Francis went to New York and hosted a religious service at the ground zero site of Sept.11 attacks in 2001, address the United Nations (UN), and celebrated Mass for a congregation of more than 20,000 at Madison Square Garden. While at the UN assembly, the pontiff accused some powerful nations of abusing the United Nations to advance in their own power agendas. He also told world leaders and diplomats to think of the poor and stop harming the Earth. Pope Francis held service at St. Patrick’s cathedral which is the emotional and symbolic heart of American Catholicism since its completion in 1879. He talked about sexual abuse by clergy and met with five victims in private. Pope Francis then went to Philadelphia, his final destination in America. He told the Philadelphia crowd to show affection and compassion for fellow human beings, while he passed by them. The pontiff then visited Curran-Fromhold correctional facility, Philadelphia’s largest prison, and visited its inmates. He told them that they are not alone in life, and everybody does sins. After Pope Francis stood in front of Independence Hall and praised America’s tradition of religious freedom and immigration, and warned that injustice can tear down a society. The trip ended Sunday and the pontiff left for Rome later that day. While on the plane ride back to Rome, reporters asked Pope Francis if he liked his visit to America, to which he replied “It was a beautiful thing and also different, Washington, the welcome was warm but more formal; New York was a bit exuberant;Philadelphia very demonstrative.” The pope’s visit triggered one of the largest security mobilization in U.S history. It was run by the U.S secret service, the F.B.I and help from the local cops. Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S left a clear mark on America.
-Courtney Stout
During his six-day trip in America, Pope Francis visited Washington, New York, and Philadelphia. In Washington he did a first-ever address to joint meeting of Congress by a pontiff(pope). The following day, Pope Francis went to New York and hosted a religious service at the ground zero site of Sept.11 attacks in 2001, address the United Nations (UN), and celebrated Mass for a congregation of more than 20,000 at Madison Square Garden. While at the UN assembly, the pontiff accused some powerful nations of abusing the United Nations to advance in their own power agendas. He also told world leaders and diplomats to think of the poor and stop harming the Earth. Pope Francis held service at St. Patrick’s cathedral which is the emotional and symbolic heart of American Catholicism since its completion in 1879. He talked about sexual abuse by clergy and met with five victims in private. Pope Francis then went to Philadelphia, his final destination in America. He told the Philadelphia crowd to show affection and compassion for fellow human beings, while he passed by them. The pontiff then visited Curran-Fromhold correctional facility, Philadelphia’s largest prison, and visited its inmates. He told them that they are not alone in life, and everybody does sins. After Pope Francis stood in front of Independence Hall and praised America’s tradition of religious freedom and immigration, and warned that injustice can tear down a society. The trip ended Sunday and the pontiff left for Rome later that day. While on the plane ride back to Rome, reporters asked Pope Francis if he liked his visit to America, to which he replied “It was a beautiful thing and also different, Washington, the welcome was warm but more formal; New York was a bit exuberant;Philadelphia very demonstrative.” The pope’s visit triggered one of the largest security mobilization in U.S history. It was run by the U.S secret service, the F.B.I and help from the local cops. Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S left a clear mark on America.
-Courtney Stout