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 Bringing a message that America's power and wealth should be used
to serve humanity, the 78-year-old pontiff said the United States
must not turn its back on "the stranger in our midst."
"Building a nation calls us to recognize that we must constantly
relate to others, rejecting a mindset of hostility," Francis told
the Republican-led Congress in Washington a day after he met with
Democratic President Barack Obama.
Francis, born in Argentina to an Italian immigrant family, delivered
a wide-ranging speech that addressed issues dear to liberals in the
United States but also emphasized conservative values and Catholic
teachings on the family.
The leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics called for a
worldwide end to the death penalty, which is still used in 31 of the
50 U.S. states, while advocating a more equitable economy to help
people "trapped in a cycle of poverty" and a greater effort against
climate change driven by human activities.
The pope later flew to New York, where he was cheered by throngs
lining Fifth Avenue as he headed in his "popemobile" to St.
Patrick's Cathedral to the sound of the cathedral bells pealing.
With organ music playing and a chorus singing, the pope was welcomed
by a crowd of 3,000 inside the cathedral for an evening prayer
service.
Francis on Friday is due to address the United Nations General
Assembly in New York and to celebrate an open-air Mass in
Philadelphia on Sunday.
His plea on immigration received frequent applause mostly from
Democrats but also from Republicans among the lawmakers, Supreme
Court justices and other dignitaries packed inside the House of
Representatives chamber to hear the first address by a pope to a
joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.
Harsh rhetoric toward illegal immigrants has featured heavily in the
race for the Republican nomination for the November 2016
presidential election.
Republican front-runner Donald Trump says if elected he would deport
all 11 million illegal immigrants, most of whom are from Latin
America like the pope, and the billionaire businessman has accused
Mexico of sending rapists and other criminals across the border.
Francis, addressing an issue that has cost the Republicans support
among increasingly influential Hispanic voters, said America should
not be put off by the flow of foreigners from south of the border
"in search of a better life."
"We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them
as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories,
trying to respond as best we can to their situation. To respond in a
way which is always humane, just and fraternal," he said, speaking
softly and in heavily accented English.
As he spoke, Francis was flanked by two of America's most
influential Catholics: House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, and
Democratic Vice President Joe Biden. Boehner, who often tears up at
emotional moments, cried openly during the speech.
IMMIGRATION STRUGGLE
The United States has grappled for years over what to do with
illegal immigrants. Republicans in Congress last year blocked a
bipartisan effort to overhaul immigration laws that would have
allowed illegal immigrants a chance to win U.S. citizenship.
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In a Pew Research Center poll conducted in May, 51 percent of 2,002
U.S. adults surveyed said immigrants strengthen the United States
because of their hard work and talents, while 41 percent said
immigrants are a burden because they take jobs, housing and
healthcare.
It was is unclear whether the pope's speech will change hearts and
minds on immigration.
"It doesn't affect my thoughts," said Michael Tipsword, a student at
George Washington University and a Catholic. He said Francis'
opinion on immigration is more related to humanitarian needs than
politics.
"I'm a pretty staunch conservative," said Tipsword, standing on the
lawn in front of the U.S. Capitol building where thousands watched
the speech on a large video screen.
Invoking famous American figures Abraham Lincoln and the Reverend
Martin Luther King Jr., Francis told U.S. lawmakers who are often
caught up in bitter partisan fights that politics should be "an
expression of our compelling need to live as one, in order to build
as one the greatest common good."
Presidential candidates from both sides of the divide held up the
pope's comments as evidence that the leader of America's 70 million
Catholics agrees with them.
Alluding to abortion and euthanasia, the pope cited a
"responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of
its development." But he quickly turned to the abolition of the
death penalty, saying "every life is sacred" and "society can only
benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes."
Francis also called for an end to a global arms trade fueled by
"money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood, in the face
of the shameful and culpable silence."
In remarks welcomed by conservatives, Francis said, "Fundamental
relationships are being called into question, as is the very basis
of marriage and the family," expressing his opposition to same-sex
marriage.
To underscore his message of helping the poor, Francis went straight
from the U.S. Capitol in his small black Fiat to have lunch with
homeless people, telling them there was no justification for
homelessness.
(Additional reporting by David Lawder, Susan Cornwell, Ian Simpson,
Patricia Zengerle, Richard Cowan, Megan Cassella, Daniel Bases,
Richard Cowan, Sebastien Malo and Susan Heavey; Writing by Alistair
Bell and Will Dunham; Editing by Mary Milliken, Grant McCool and
Lisa Shumaker)
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