The Pope's Journey to the U.S.

On September 22nd, 2015, history was made as Pope Francis became only the 4th Pope to step foot on American soil. His five day trip consisted of stops to Washington D.C, New York City, and Philadelphia. At 5:48 pm, Pope Francis arrived in Washington D.C as he was greeted by President Obama and his family, along with the 20,000 viewers in attendance. Arriving in his stylish Fiat 500, Pope Francis was honored by a ceremony delivered by President Obama. In D.C, Pope Francis spoke to the hundreds of thousands in the crowds, and the millions who watched unceasingly on TV. The Pope expressed his favor towards promoting world peace and emphasized that God’s most powerful message is mercy. It was a busy start to the Pope’s first day of arrival, but one that will never be forgotten for those who watched it unfold in person and over the air. On the third day of his American tour, the Pope landed in New York City where he was swarmed by over 2,400 people, including a family that the Pope addressed by stating, “You're crazy,” since this family traveled 13,000 miles from Argentina to see the Pope in New York City. After the Pope joked with the enthusiastic family, he gave them a hug and thanked them for making the journey down. In New York, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude toward the ecstatic greetings that were laid upon him, and after the speech, he set out to visit the 9/11 memorial where he prayed over the family members of those lost in the attack. The Pope stated, “This site stands as a heroic example of strength, generosity, and service,” referring to those who put their lives in danger to save the many. Pope Francis’ final destination took place in Philadelphia, where he held Catholic Mass for over more than 1.5 million people. He spoke about many controversial issues, including his stance on women’s involvement in the church, and immigration—that women should be more involved in churches, and that immigrants should be treated better and respected more. He condemned the issue of child abuse, stating that, “God weeps for the sexual abuse of children,” and those responsible of sexual abuse, “will be held accountable.” On his last day, in his final hours on US soil, Pope Francis gave his farewell speech, exclaiming that his time in America has left him with a heart full of “gratitude and hope.” Pope Francis’ visit to America inspired the millions who watched it take place, and it will be remembered as a significant event in history. We are blessed that one of the most revered men in the world took time out of his lifelong mission to bestow blessings upon the leaders of our country and its people.

Photo from en.wikipedia.org

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