Pope's Visit May Bring Out the Best, or Worst, in Washingtonians

Aletelia ^ | August 27, 2015 | JOHN BURGER

[NYer]

Jostling for tickets, preparing to introduce special legislation, pushing pet causes, and gearing up for the kinds of crowds that could rival those of a presidential inauguration day are some of the ways Washington, D.C., is getting ready for Pope Francis.

Yep, that sounds just like Washington. 

The Pope will be in the nation's capital Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 22-24, and the coveting of papal event tickets might be just as strong in Congress as it is in parishes. 

Previous popes have celebrated public Masses in Washington—the last was Pope Benedict XVI at Nationals Stadium in 2008—and visited the White House, but Francis will be the first Roman Pontiff to address a joint gathering of Congress.

The Washington Post reported that members of Congress were alotted one ticket each in order to invite someone to sit in the gallery during the Pope's speech. In addition, House members were given one ticket each for a member of the public to view a simulcast in the Cannon Caucus Rooom, and 50 tickets to view the speech on jumbotrons on the Capitol's West Lawn. Senators received 100 pairs of outside tickets.

Some members of Congress may be able to stand out through legislative efforts on bills that seem to be aligned with Francis's views, the Post said:

Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life, said abortion opponents will push for a Senate vote on a measure to ban abortion after 20 weeks of gestation. The group is also highlighting other measures that fit with Francis’s priorities, including a bill sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) that would create paid family leave.

Whether Pope Francis has actually spoken ex cathedra on paid family leave, the push for such a bill might would give the normally pro-abortion Gillibrand some cover.

The masses, of course, will have slightly easier access to see Pope Francis in person. Cardinal Donald Wuerl said that tickets for the outdoor Mass at the Shrine of the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, where Pope Francis will canonize Blessed Junipero Serra, would be distributed through parishes, as is also being done in New York. But they are intended for people active in parish and Catholic life, particularly Spanish-speaking immigrants eager to see the first Hispanic pope, the archbishop of Washington said. Francis is expected to address crowds primarily in his mother tongue on his American visit. 

One priest, Msgr. Ronald Jameson, has a clever way of making sure tickets go to people who are serious about participating in the encounter with the Bishop of Rome. Msgr. Jameson, rector of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, said those who request tickets must write a letter answering two questions: “Why on earth would you want to go to a papal Mass?” and “What are you doing in your parish or Catholic life that would connect you with what Pope Francis is talking about?”

Replies have come from a man who said Francis had inspired him to begin the path to priesthood, a Jewish man who said he was volunteering more with his Catholic wife, and a Latino woman who called the Pope her “hero.”

Meanwhile, those outside the perimeters of such events also seek to be noticed: environmentalists, the Post reported, have secured a permit for 200,000 persons for a rally on the Mall to highlight Francis' concern for the environment, as expressed in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si'. 

And what would a papal visit be without stirring up some real emotions: not so much issues-based, but the wrath of drivers stuck in traffic? 

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine said that his agency expects “very, very large crowds . . . much earlier than prior to the Pope coming up the Capitol, lining all of the streets.”

Although Washington officials have not released a traffic diagram and management plans for the pope’s visit as Philadelphia has, they said commuters should expect significant disruptions from road closures and restricted zones.

“It won’t be a typical motorcade, and it won’t be typical traffic jams,” said John B. Townsend II of AAA Mid-Atlantic. “This is beyond rock-star status.”

[NYer]

Never understood the secularist interest in the pope. They don't agree with his teachings nor will they heed his admonitions.

Ping!

[SevenofNine]

I just hope Philly sport fans be nice to the Pope they have reputation NYer

We talking about same group of people that boo Santa Claus okay LOL!

[humblegunner]

They don't agree with his teachings nor will they heed his admonitions.

But they'll sure get shut down by he Papal traffic jams, huh?

Guess that'll show 'em.. and make converts of 'em.

[EEGator]

Tebow got an ovation the other day.

[maddog55]

Based on some of the things he says they in favor of:

Pope Francis: ‘Revolution’ needed to combat climate change
Pope Francis on gays: ‘Who am I to judge?’
Pope Francis on same sex marriage: Would tolerate some same-sex civil unions, though not marriage.

[SevenofNine]

That Tim Tebrow they like him

I don’t know about Eagles fans they are something else look at You tube you see Eagles fans on their worst behavior

[EEGator]

I live just outside Philly.

[SkyPilot]

There has been a plethora of leaks that he will "announce" something "major."

I wonder what it will be?

A call for the New Order Global Government?

Officially sanctioning homosexuality?

Announcing that aliens (demons actually) have made contact?

I also wonder if some major calamity enfolds just prior to his addresses to Congress and the UN.

[Arthur McGowan]

Wondering what I can get over the counter that could knock me unconscious for 48 hours.

[Rich21IE]

Yea, well.....he is from South America. Who am I too judge?

[Salvation]

Yet they will vie for tickets to either the Congress gallery or the Mass.

[Salvation]

I don’t know where you are getting your information. But that (what you posted) is not the truth in my opinion. Or are you mimicking the lamestream media trying to be funny?

[Mrs. Don-o]

While we're at it, here's my own not-updated and not- complete, but still pretty robust link list of the Pope speaking out in favor of traditional marriage morality and against gay marriage and radical "gender theory" over just in the first 6 months of this year..

What, you haven't seen these in the mainstream media, either?

Ever wonder why?

---

LINKS:

Pope Francis Tells Couples To Wait Until Marriage To Have Sex

Pope Francis: Gender Theory Is a Threat to Society

Pope: Marriage between man and woman is threatened by gender ideology

Pope Francis: “Children have a ‘Right’ to a Mother and Father”

The Closed Door of Pope Francis (Speaks against abortion, divorce, and homosexuality)

Pope Francis: marriage inscribed in creation (Man/Woman)

Pope Francis and the family, the next step (pro-Traditional Family)

Pope Francis is starting to look a lot like Sarah Palin (Guardian UK dumps Francis)

A Letter to Pope Francis (Pope defends man-woman marriage)

Pope: Men, Women “Different”

Pope Rejects ‘So-Called Gender Theory’

Pope Rejected Gay French Diplomat as Ambassador to Holy See

Pope Francis 'refuses' gay French ambassador

Kasper is Not the 'Pope's Theologian,' Says Leading African Cardinal

Cardinal Burke Denies Rift With Pope, Warns of ‘Gay Agenda’ for Synod

Pope: Men, Women “Different”

Pope Rejects ‘So-Called Gender Theory’

Pope Rejected Gay French Diplomat as Ambassador to Holy See

Pope Francis 'refuses' gay French ambassador

Pope Francis condemns gender theory a third time: ‘The family is under attack’

Pope Francis defends church’s opposition to artificial contraception

Pope Francis Defends Human Nature Against Gender Radicals

Pope's Shocking Hitler Youth Comparison (Pope blasts gender theory)

Pope Francis: ‘The Choice To Not Have Children Is Selfish’

Pope declares couples who don’t want kids ‘selfish,’ says they are part of a ‘greedy generation’

Pope Francis on abortion: ‘Never, never does killing a person resolve a problem’

Pope Francis praises Chilean mother who chose life for baby with anencephaly at heart of abortion debate

Bringing children into the world is never a ‘mistake’: Pope Francis

Don’t be afraid to have more children: Pope Francis

Pope Francis supports Slovak effort to ban gay ‘marriage’, adoption

Pope Francis Defends Human Nature Against Gender Radicals

Pope's Shocking Hitler Youth Comparison (Pope blasts gender theory)

Pope to Catholic couples: you can’t get married if you’re not open to children

Pope Francis praises Humanae Vitae, warns of attacks on family

[Mrs. Don-o]

While we're at it, here's my own not-updated and not- complete, but still pretty robust link list of the Pope speaking out in favor of traditional marriage morality and against gay marriage and radical "gender theory" over just in the first 6 months of this year..

What, you haven't seen these in the mainstream media, either?

Ever wonder why?

---

LINKS:

Pope Francis Tells Couples To Wait Until Marriage To Have Sex

Pope Francis: Gender Theory Is a Threat to Society

Pope: Marriage between man and woman is threatened by gender ideology

Pope Francis: “Children have a ‘Right’ to a Mother and Father”

The Closed Door of Pope Francis (Speaks against abortion, divorce, and homosexuality)

Pope Francis: marriage inscribed in creation (Man/Woman)

Pope Francis and the family, the next step (pro-Traditional Family)

Pope Francis is starting to look a lot like Sarah Palin (Guardian UK dumps Francis)

A Letter to Pope Francis (Pope defends man-woman marriage)

Pope: Men, Women “Different”

Pope Rejects ‘So-Called Gender Theory’

Pope Rejected Gay French Diplomat as Ambassador to Holy See

Pope Francis 'refuses' gay French ambassador

Kasper is Not the 'Pope's Theologian,' Says Leading African Cardinal

Cardinal Burke Denies Rift With Pope, Warns of ‘Gay Agenda’ for Synod

Pope: Men, Women “Different”

Pope Rejects ‘So-Called Gender Theory’

Pope Rejected Gay French Diplomat as Ambassador to Holy See

Pope Francis 'refuses' gay French ambassador

Pope Francis condemns gender theory a third time: ‘The family is under attack’

Pope Francis defends church’s opposition to artificial contraception

Pope Francis Defends Human Nature Against Gender Radicals

Pope's Shocking Hitler Youth Comparison (Pope blasts gender theory)

Pope Francis: ‘The Choice To Not Have Children Is Selfish’

Pope declares couples who don’t want kids ‘selfish,’ says they are part of a ‘greedy generation’

Pope Francis on abortion: ‘Never, never does killing a person resolve a problem’

Pope Francis praises Chilean mother who chose life for baby with anencephaly at heart of abortion debate

Bringing children into the world is never a ‘mistake’: Pope Francis

Don’t be afraid to have more children: Pope Francis

Pope Francis supports Slovak effort to ban gay ‘marriage’, adoption

Pope Francis Defends Human Nature Against Gender Radicals

Pope's Shocking Hitler Youth Comparison (Pope blasts gender theory)

Pope to Catholic couples: you can’t get married if you’re not open to children

Pope Francis praises Humanae Vitae, warns of attacks on family

[Mrs. Don-o]

Oops, sorry for the double. I’m
actually not sure how that happened.

[Salvation]

Thank you.

So many people believe the lamestream media when it comes to Catholicism, but disbelieve it in matters of politics.

Sigh......