Pope Francis has Washington guessing before historic speech to Congress


A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
On Thursday, Pope Francis becomes the first pope ever to address a joint session of Congress. He is expected to promote efforts to address climate change, stand up for religious liberty, back more liberal immigration laws, plead the plight of the poor and disenfranchised, and perhaps touch on abortion, but the truth is, nobody knows what Francis will say. He will speak to a packed chamber, in halting English, standing in front of Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), both Catholic.
The pope isn't shy from voicing his opinion on controversial topics, but there's reason to believe he may be politic in Congress. On Wednesday night, Francis told a gathering of U.S. bishops that "harsh and divisive language does not befit the tongue of a pastor," warning that "although it may momentarily seem to win the day, only the enduring allure of goodness and love remains truly convincing." He added that Catholic moral teaching could "fall like a house of cards" if the church focuses on abortion, marriage, and other hot-button social issues at the expense of love and mercy.
"There's a lot of interest in what the pope is saying, his outreach to the poor, the fact that he thinks people ought to be more religious," said Boehner. "He's got other positions that are a bit more controversial, but it's the pope."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Peter Weber is a senior editor at TheWeek.com, and has handled the editorial night shift since the website launched in 2008. A graduate of Northwestern University, Peter has worked at Facts on File and The New York Times Magazine. He speaks Spanish and Italian and plays bass and rhythm cello in an Austin rock band. Follow him on Twitter.
-
China: a superpower’s slump
The Explainer After 40 years of explosive growth, China’s economy is now in deep distress — with no turnaround in sight
By The Week Staff Published
-
Retirees’ biggest surprise expense
Feature And more of the week's best financial insight
By The Week Staff Published
-
The United Auto Workers’ strike has put Democrats in a bind
Feature President Biden will have to pick a side in the dispute
By The Week Staff Published
-
The United Methodist Church has lost 20% of U.S. congregations in schism over LGBTQ rules
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Pope Francis investigates Texas bishop, accepts early resignation of embattled Tennessee prelate
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Southern Baptists expel Saddleback, 2nd church over female pastors, approve further clampdown
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Thousands flock to Missouri to see body of nun who died in 2019
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Report finds nearly 2,000 kids abused by Catholic clergy in Illinois over decades
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Pope Francis is involved in 'mission' to bring peace to Ukraine
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Jewish-Muslim tensions boil over in Jerusalem
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Pope Francis hospitalized with respiratory infection
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published