Pope Francis wades into politics, calls for unity in divided Congress

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Quotes from Pope Francis’ speech to Congress

“A political society endures when it seeks, as a vocation, to satisfy common needs by stimulating the growth of all its members, especially those in situations of greater vulnerability or risk. Legislative activity is always based on care for the people.”

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“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. But there is another temptation which we must especially guard against: the simplistic reduction which sees only good or evil; or, if you will, the righteous and the sinners. The contemporary world, with its open wounds which affect so many of our brothers and sisters, demands that we confront every form of polarization which would divide it into these two camps.”

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“Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Let us help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves. In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us. The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development.”

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“Our efforts must aim at restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and of peoples. We must move forward together, as one, in a renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously for the common good.”

Pope Francis called for lawmakers to embrace a "spirit of cooperation" in a historic address to a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday, while he took firm political stances on the issues that have inspired some of the nation's sharpest divisions.

Francis offered tributes to American ideals and potential, weaving together values from four examples that included Atlanta’s Martin Luther King Jr. But he also prodded Congress on areas where, in the pontiff’s view, it falls short.

“Legislative activity is always based on care for the people,” he said.

The pope’s message hewed to no political party. With a government shutdown possible within a week due to fighting over abortion, Francis took on the Republican view by speaking of “our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development.”

But he spent far more time on a Democrat-friendly charge that Congress has "an important role to play" in fighting climate change. Francis quoted heavily from his encyclical this year on the subject.

In the first-ever papal address to Congress, Francis called on legislators to open their arms to immigrants, as Congress has bitterly fought for years on an immigration plan that remains stifled by conservatives who do not want to give “amnesty” to lawbreakers. He compared the refugees from the Syrian war to those heading North from his own native Latin America.

“We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation,” the pope said.

“To respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal. We need to avoid a common temptation nowadays: to discard whatever proves troublesome.”

Francis also expressed concern, in less explicit terms, about the legalization of same-sex marriage:

“I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without,” he said. “Fundamental relationships are being called into question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family. I can only reiterate the importance and, above all, the richness and the beauty of family life.”

America ‘a land of dreams’

He also gave an extended tribute to King, one of four Americans he singled out as examples along with President Abraham Lincoln, social justice activist Dorothy Day and monk Thomas Merton.

“Here, too, I think of the march which Martin Luther King led from Selma to Montgomery 50 years ago as part of the campaign to fulfill his ‘dream’ of full civil and political rights for African-Americans,” Francis said.

“That dream continues to inspire us all. I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of ‘dreams.’ Dreams which lead to action, to participation, to commitment. Dreams which awaken what is deepest and truest in the life of a people.”

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, an Atlanta Democrat and civil rights activist, led the first attempt at a Selma march, cut off before it began by state troopers and possemen on Bloody Sunday. In his backpack that day was a book written by Merton. Lewis rose with his colleagues during the King section of the speech and hesitated for a moment, seemingly overcome with emotion, as he started to applaud.

“Though I was reluctant to openly shed tears, I cried within to hear his words,” Lewis said later in a statement. “I was deeply moved to realize I had a connection in some way with some of those he mentioned.”

Following the speech, Francis spoke to thousands of onlookers gathered on the Capitol lawn. He met with the poor and homeless at Catholic charities before departing for New York as he continues his six-day visit to the United States.

‘A great message for all mankind’

Congressional leaders had been hypersensitive to decorum before the speech, and the members and guests mostly behaved themselves. They sat in rapt attention, with dozens capturing the moment with smartphone and iPad photos. U.S. Sen. David Perdue, a Georgia Republican, said senators were told to treat it like a church service.

“If you notice, some of the applause interrupted the pope,” he said. “I was uncomfortable with that. So I would not read into who stood, when they stood, like you would when a president is speaking.”

While the applause was mostly bipartisan, Democrats were louder and quicker to rise for talk of immigrants, while Republicans sprang up at the reference to preventing abortion. There was none of the grumbling often heard during a State of the Union address.

The chamber was united for the pope’s admonition to follow the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

And that’s the message most lawmakers held onto afterward in praising the pontiff.

“He was not making a political speech,” said Georgia Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson. “He was making a speech based on his philosophy and religion to a political body. I think we all understood that. …

“I thought his message was a great message for all mankind, not just for Congress and the United States.”

Perdue described himself as “moved.”

“His admonition to us is use our opportunity and use this position we’re in to be compassionate with the rest of the world,” Perdue said. “And that’s a very useful piece of advice.”

Among other specifics, Francis called for ending the death penalty, curbing the international arms trade and fighting global poverty.

“It got couched in political terms, but I think what he was saying gave some ideas, gave some thoughts and then said: ‘Go work it out,’ ” said Rep. Doug Collins, a Gainesville Republican and a Baptist pastor.

“He put people first. … I can agree on that part.”