Posted on 09/23/2015 7:10:29 AM PDT by markomalley
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A- A A+ Pope Francis Address During Welcoming Ceremony at White House American Catholics are committed to building a society which is truly tolerant and inclusive, to safeguarding the rights of individuals and communities, and to rejecting every form of unjust discrimination.
Washington, D.C., September 23, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Staff Reporter | 64 hits
Here is the address delivered by Pope Francis during the Welcoming Ceremony held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
* * *
Mr President,
I am deeply grateful for your welcome in the name of all Americans. As the son of an immigrant family, I am happy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families. I look forward to these days of encounter and dialogue, in which I hope to listen to, and share, many of the hopes and dreams of the American people.
During my visit I will have the honor of addressing Congress, where I hope, as a brother of this country, to offer words of encouragement to those called to guide the nations political future in fidelity to its founding principles. I will also travel to Philadelphia for the Eighth World Meeting of Families, to celebrate and support the institutions of marriage and the family at this, a critical moment in the history of our civilization.
Mr. President, together with their fellow citizens, American Catholics are committed to building a society which is truly tolerant and inclusive, to safeguarding the rights of individuals and communities, and to rejecting every form of unjust discrimination. With countless other people of good will, they are likewise concerned that efforts to build a just and wisely ordered society respect their deepest concerns and their right to religious liberty. That freedom remains one of Americas most precious possessions. And, as my brothers, the United States Bishops, have reminded us, all are called to be vigilant, precisely as good citizens, to preserve and defend that freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it.
Mr. President, I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution. Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation. When it comes to the care of our common home, we are living at a critical moment of history. We still have time to make the changes needed to bring about a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change (Laudato Si, 13). Such change demands on our part a serious and responsible recognition not only of the kind of world we may be leaving to our children, but also to the millions of people living under a system which has overlooked them. Our common home has been part of this group of the excluded which cries out to heaven and which today powerfully strikes our homes, our cities and our societies. To use a telling phrase of the Reverend Martin Luther King, we can say that we have defaulted on a promissory note and now is the time to honor it.
We know by faith that the Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home (Laudato Si, 13). As Christians inspired by this certainty, we wish to commit ourselves to the conscious and responsible care of our common home.
The efforts which were recently made to mend broken relationships and to open new doors to cooperation within our human family represent positive steps along the path of reconciliation, justice and freedom. I would like all men and women of good will in this great nation to support the efforts of the international community to protect the vulnerable in our world and to stimulate integral and inclusive models of development, so that our brothers and sisters everywhere may know the blessings of peace and prosperity which God wills for all his children.
Mr President, once again I thank you for your welcome, and I look forward to these days in your country. God bless America!
This Pope is hardcore socialist.
Much like the POTUS.
Two peas in a pod.
Did he mention Christ anywhere in this speech?
Poverty is great for recruiting into the church..so the more leftist policies..the poorer and less free we get..when all is lost you turn to the church.
Pope needs people to be poor IMO..and wants it. This is why he embraces Dictators
I’m Catholic and this guy is making me ill
“Mr. President, I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution.”
Wow, THAT’s really important! (But what about abortion and the selling of baby parts???)
Much talk about climate change, but no mention of abortion.
I’ll be watching and listening to Pope Francis very carefully.
Not if that's the full speech. But he did mention Martin Luther King.
“The Pope needs people to be poor.” True.
Ditto with the Democrats.
I’m a Catholic too and so disgusted with this pathetic pope.
He did surprising well speaking English. God bless him for that.
I’m no fan of this Pope, so I wasn’t disappointed with his speech.
I just “knew” he wouldn’t dare to “shake the conscience” of his comrade-in-arms by mentioning abortion or the right to life. MAYBE that subject will be broached at another time.
P.S. Silly me, the _resident doesn’t have a conscience!
Yes he did, he thanked him for inviting him. This is a political trip.
Pray America is waking
I was hoping that this text of the speech was a joke or scam, but it appears to be real. I knew this Pope was a Leftist, but the mask is really coming off now. This speech is as sad as it is outrageous.
Is there anywhere in this world today Satan is not having a field day?
Nothing about gay marriage and abortion.
unjust discrimination
What does he consider just discrimination?
to build a just and wisely ordered society
“Just” according to who’s definition?
Who gets to decide which discrimination is unjust?
There is just and unjust discrimination. To isokate sick people in qurantine is just discriminatio. To refuse to treat some of those sick people because they are too white or black or old is unjust.
The Church has taught thst homosexuals must be free of unjust discrimination. But there is just discrimination in regard to homosexuals.
My comment to my wife: Could you imagine if our pastor had a standing room only crowd and was broadcasting to millions and the main topic was global warming?
Could you imagine Peter or Paul having millions listening to them and they talk about the weather?
Could you imagine Jesus giving the sermon on the mount and talking about weather?
Well said.
A lot of clowns on this thread apparently missed the Pope’s remarks about adhering to the founding principles of this country, respecting and supporting marriage and family and concern for religious liberty.
People see what they want to see and ignore what is inconvenient.
He was never going to come out and slap Obama in the face about abortion directly in this venue, but missing the above mentioned remarks is telling.
I hope he has strong words before Congress about abortion / Planned Parenthood. I’m not convinced yet and I hope he doesn’t miss this opportunity.
He needs to go over an address ISIS.
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