House Speaker John Boehner said today that Pope Francis has accepted an invitation to address a special joint session of Congress in September. It will be the first time a pope has done so.
The speech will take place on Sept. 24, during his previously announced visit to the U.S. He will also be attending the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia and will be visiting New York as well.
“In a time of global upheaval, the Holy Father’s message of compassion and human dignity has moved people of all faiths and backgrounds,” Boehner said in a statement today, reports The Wall Street Journal. “We look forward to warmly welcoming Pope Francis to our Capitol.”
While this invitation sounds like a nonpartisan issue, Democrats in Congress said that they were not notified before Boehner asked the Pope. Still, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was happy that the pope accepted the invitation.
Pope Francis has “renewed the faith of Catholics worldwide and inspired a new generation of people, regardless of their religious affiliation, to be instruments of peace,” Pelosi said.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the pope will arrive in Washington DC on Sept. 22 to first meet with President Obama at the White House. After that, he heads to New York to speak before the UN on Sept. 25, then goes to Philadelphia.
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