[caption id="attachment_13991" align="alignright" width="246"] Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress as Vice President Joe Biden (left) and Speaker of the House John Boehner look on in the House of Representatives Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Sept. 24. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See POPE-CONGRESS Sept. 24, 2015.[/caption]
WASHINGTON (CNS) - The past, the promise and the potential of the United States must not be smothered by bickering and even hatred at a time when the U.S. people and indeed the world need a helping hand, Pope Francis told the U.S. Congress.
Making history by being the first pope ever to address a joint meeting of Congress, Pope Francis was introduced to the legislators by the House sergeant at arms Sept. 24 as: "Mr. Speaker, the pope of the Holy See."
The pope introduced himself, though, as a son of the American continent, who had been blessed by the "new world" and felt a responsibility toward it.
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