As Pope Francis marks his first anniversary as Pontiff, House Speaker John Boehner
announced yesterday that he has extended an open invitation to Pope Francis to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, saying in part:
His tireless call for the protection of the most vulnerable among us—the ailing, the disadvantaged, the unemployed, the impoverished, the unborn—has awakened hearts on every continent....
Many in the United States ... have embraced Pope Francis’ reminder that we cannot meet our responsibility to the poor with a welfare mentality based on business calculations. We can meet it only with personal charity on the one hand and sound, inclusive policies on the other.
The Holy Father’s pastoral message challenges people of all faiths, ideologies and political parties. His address as a visiting head of state before a joint meeting of the House and Senate would honor our nation in keeping with the best traditions of our democratic institutions. It would also offer an excellent opportunity for the American people as well as the nations of the world to hear his message in full.
Time reports that House minority leader Nancy Pelosi issued a statement joining in the invitation.
