Pope Francis on Thursday gave an historic address to a joint meeting of Congress that delivered big applause lines for Democrats on issues like the need to end armed conflict, welcoming immigrants, and taking steps to stop climate change.
And while Republicans have spent the week reminding people that the pope agrees with the GOP on issues like family and abortion, the pontiff only gave a few brief nods to those issues, and in far less specific terms.
For example, he stressed that the “Golden Rule” reminds people of their “responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development,” a line that drew strong applause. But that line was followed by a call for ending the death penalty, which drew Democratic applause, and he made no explicit mention of abortion.
He addressed family issues at the end of his remarks, but even then, he only mentioned his broad concern for families with words that may have hinted at issues like same-sex marriage, but without any specifics.
“I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without,” he said. “Fundamental relationships are being called into question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family. I can only reiterate the importance and, above all, the richness and the beauty of family life.”
But for social conservatives looking for sharper messages on abortion or same-sex marriage, that was about it, and Francis largely met the expectation that he would dodge those sensitive issues in his speech.
The rest of speech was much more specific on themes that Democrats have adopted. For example, as America struggles to deal with radical Islamic terrorism, Pope Francis seemed to give a nod to Democrats who have warned against striking out against Muslims, by saying the U.S. must continue to ensure religious freedom.
“A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms,” he said. “We know that in the attempt to be freed of the enemy without, we can be tempted to feed the enemy within.”
Later in his address, he cited the importance of ending all armed conflict around the world, and reiterated his view that too much money is made by selling weapons around the world. Francis has been critical of capitalism before, and his comments in this area seemed to highlight that theme again.
“Being at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world,” he said. “Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society?”
“Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood,” he added.
The pope clearly sided with Democrats on immigration, and said people should not be “fearful of foreigners,” because most everyone was once a foreigner, drawing applause. He said the world is not only facing a refugee crisis in Europe, but an immigration crisis in the Americas, as thousands “travel north” to the U.S. “in search of a better life.”
“Is this not what we want for our own children?” he asked. “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.”
Francis reiterated his Wednesday remarks from the White House on climate, an issue on which he is in clear agreement with President Obama and most Democrats. Many Democrats are hoping his words on the environment can be used to put the GOP in a box later this year when the U.S. and other nations try to make progress on a global climate agreement.
“Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a ‘culture of care’ and ‘an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature,'” he said.
The entire framework of Francis’ remarks were about how Congress must play an important role in ensuring the welfare of its citizens, a far cry from the repeated Republican calls for a smaller, less wasteful government.
“You are the face of its people, their representatives,” he said. “You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics.”
“Legislative activity is always based on care for the people,” he said, and added later that America must continue to fight for the poor and the needy.
“They too need to be given hope,” he said. “The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts, especially in its causes.”
