In historic speech, Francis urges 'pursuit of the common good'

WASHINGTON - In a sweeping call to "the common good and cooperation," Pope Francis used a historic speech to Congress Thursday to strike themes of compassion and peace, applying age-old religious teachings to some of the most charged policy debates of the era.

Seeking an end to conflicts - armed or political - Francis called for religious tolerance, a welcome reception for immigrants, and care for the environment and the poor worldwide. Most broadly, he sought unity in an institution marked by discord.

"You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics," he told lawmakers as well as Supreme Court justices, Cabinet members, and military leaders who crammed the House chamber as they would for a State of the Union address.

The long-awaited speech - the highlight of a second whirlwind day in Francis' inaugural U.S. visit - touched on many of the themes he has articulated during his 21/2-year pontificate.

It also could be a preview of what he says in coming days to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, and the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims expected to pack Center City Philadelphia this weekend. That leg of the trip began late Thursday, when the pontiff arrived in New York and attended evening prayers at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The Capitol Hill address was the first ever by a pope. In a city where access reflects status, tickets were among the most prized in memory.

Tens of thousands of people who lacked them packed the National Mall, and cheered when Francis emerged later on a Capitol balcony to deliver a brief blessing. Reinforcing his reputation as a caretaker for the poor, the pontiff abstained from the typical power lunch, and instead visited the homeless and needy at an event and lunch with Catholic Charities workers outside a Washington church.

Inside the Capitol, lawmakers gushed at the chance to meet the Vatican leader. Francis blessed the baby of one congressional aide, as well as the rosaries of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska.

He stood at the same lectern used by U.S. presidents when they address a joint session of Congress, with Vice President Biden and House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio), both Catholics, flanking him from behind. Boehner wiped away tears when Francis opened by saying he was grateful to be "in the land of the free and the home of the brave."

In his 50-minute speech, the pope said his remarks were directed not just to Congress but "through you, to the entire people of the United States," and he held up four Americans - Abraham Lincoln, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the social activist Dorothy Day, and the Trappist monk Thomas Merton as worthy of esteem and emulation.

"They shaped fundamental values which will endure forever in the spirit of the American people," he said.

Francis praised Lincoln for his collaborative ways, and warned against violence used in the name of "religion, ideology, or economic system." He also urged his listeners to resist the temptation to view the world in simplistic notions of good and evil.

"To imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place," he cautioned. "That is something which you, as a people, reject."

He cited King's voting-rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., and wove it into a call to lawmakers and the nation to be welcoming of immigrants.

"I say this to you as the son of immigrants, knowing that so many of you are descended from immigrants," he said. "Our world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the Second World War."

But "on this continent, too, thousands of persons are led to travel north in search of a better life" and opportunities. Then he cited the Golden Rule as the way to greet them.

"We must not be taken aback by their numbers," he continued, "but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation."

Speaking slowly, in English heavily accented by the Spanish of his native Argentina, the 78-year-old pontiff was at times difficult to understand.

He has acknowledged English is not his strength - only four of his 18 speeches on this trip will be in English - and this was said to be his longest address ever in the foreign language. Aides also said he was fatigued by the heavy demands of the nine-day journey that will end this weekend in Philadelphia.

His unprecedented visit to Capitol Hill came at a rancorous moment in American politics, with Congress racing toward a divisive showdown over simply keeping the government running. Hours after the pope left the grounds, the Senate was scheduled to begin another round of sparring on abortion, with a vote on a bill that would fund the government but strip all aid from Planned Parenthood.

Francis seemed determined to appeal to both sides of the political aisle, and was frequently interrupted by unified applause - though the enthusiasm at times shifted when he touched on the most divisive issues.

Democrats rose with glee when he spoke about climate change and immigration; Republicans reacted heartily to his references to protecting families and opposing abortions.

(Rep. Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat, let out a lone whoop when Francis mentioned his forthcoming visit to the city.)

One partisan divide emerged when the pope cited caring for the planet as another "common good." He called for efforts to avert "environmental deterioration caused by human activity."

Only a handful of Republicans stood or applauded.

But GOP lawmakers got their turn to cheer moments later when the pope again cited the Golden Rule, this time in a nod to abortion foes, when he said it "reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development."

In his next words, Francis again pivoted, calling for banning the death penalty, an idea embraced mainly by Democrats.

He even addressed the global arms trade, asking why weapons are sold "to those who plan to inflict untold suffering." The answer, he said "is simply money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood."

And, after shaking hands with Secretary of State John Kerry, another Catholic, on his way into the chamber, Francis nodded toward diplomacy, in remarks that could be interpreted as approving of the U.S. engagement with Cuba, with Iran, or both.

"When countries which have been at odds resume the path of dialogue . . . new opportunities open up for all," he said.

The pontiff took note of the World Meeting of Families gathering in Philadelphia, and told lawmakers a focus on family life was "essential" to this country's history and worthy of its continued support.

"Yet I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and out," Francis said. "Fundamental relationships are being called into question," he said, a likely reference to same-sex marriage, "as is the very basis of marriage and the family."

The pope closed by expressing similar concern for young people around the world, many of whom find themselves "disoriented and aimless, trapped in a hopeless maze of violence, abuse, and despair."

His words hung in the chamber as the attendees began to filter out. Lawmakers seemed to take pains to embrace the message of unity even as the old policy debates were poised to resume.

Francis' soft, deliberate tone "created an even greater sense of the importance of his message," said Rep. Patrick Meehan (R., Pa.), a Catholic from Delaware County. "To a person, I think people were just awed with the chance to be in that room."

Rep. Donald Norcross (D., N.J.) called it "a moment I will not forget."

"Something you and I have heard a million times took a very different meaning," he said, "when the pontiff is standing in the heart of democracy and says, 'God bless America.' "

jtamari@phillynews.com @JonathanTamari philly.com/CapitolInq

This report contains information from the Associated Press.

In his speech to Congress, Pope Francis highlighted the contributions of four Americans he said helped shape fundamental values that will "endure forever in the spirit of the American people."

Americans are familiar with two of those cited by the pope - President Abraham Lincoln and civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - but the social activist Dorothy Day and the writer Thomas Merton are less well known.

Day, long a revered figure among Catholic progressives, founded the Catholic Worker Movement in the 1930s as she sought to help the poor and homeless. A pacifist, Day was arrested many times as she fought to bring attention to the plight of the poor and working class.

Merton, a Trappist monk and poet, advocated interfaith dialogue, and spoke out against the Vietnam War and nuclear weapons.

As a young woman, Day had an abortion, and the pope's choice to highlight her service was seen by some observers as a demonstration of his vision of a merciful church. The pope has said he will allow priests to grant absolution for abortion, which the Catholic Church views as a grave sin.

Francis said in his speech that a nation can be considered great when it defends liberty as Lincoln did; when it fosters dreams of full rights for all, as King did; when it strives for justice for the oppressed, as Day did; and when it encourages peaceful dialogue, as Merton did.

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author, called the pope's words "rehabilitation" for Day, who was once told by a prominent U.S. cardinal not to call her group "Catholic."

Martin on Twitter called Day an "apostle of the poor" and Merton an "apostle of dialogue," adding of the pope's decision to highlight them: "Amen." - Associated Press

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