The Pope Isn't A Big Fan Of Capitalism, And Everything Else You Need To Know About His US Visit
The Pope is in the US and Americans are going wild. His first stop is in the nation's capitol, adding a distinctly political flair to his visit. On Wednesday, the Pope spoke about climate change, immigration and poverty at the White House. On Thursday morning, he addressed a joint session of Congress (read what he had to say here), speaking out against climate change, the death penalty, and the challenges facing "the family". On Friday, he spoke at the UN.
'TOO MANY SPECIAL INTERESTS'
The Pope Was Back On The Climate Change Warpath At The UN
At the center of this argument was a call to care for humanity, but it was also laced with an accusation: International institutions have done far too little to protect the environment.
"The failure of global summits on the environment make it plain that our politics are subject to technology and finance," he wrote. "There are too many special interests, and economic interests easily end up trumping the common good and manipulating information so that their own plans will not be affected."
PONTIFICATING LIKE CRAZY
TL:DR — The Pope's Speech To Congress Broken Down Into 10 Points
Don't worry, you don't have to read/watch the whole speech to see what the Pope had to say.
Mr. Pope Goes To Washington
Watch The Historic Speech
Riding Holy
An Illustrated History Of The Popemobile
In 1800, Pope Pius VII assumed leadership of the Catholic Church in an unprecedented way — he rolled there. For the first time in the history of the church, the pope-elect came by carriage, not on horseback, to Vatican City. Since then, popes have employed all sorts of four-wheeled vehicles to get from place to place.
One of the 32 iterations? This baller carriage:
Washington Post
OUR 'COMMON HOME'
Watch The Pope Urge The US To Act On Climate Change
During his first address in the United States, Francis pulled no punches when talking about one of the defining issues of his leadership, calling on Americans to protect our "common home" and act on climate change with a sense of urgency—a stance that many Republicans have criticized. "It seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation," Francis said, in slow but forceful English.
Rogue MissionARY
A Controversial Canonization
On Wednesday, the Pope canonized Junípero Serra, the controversial Catholic priest who spearheaded California's mission system in the 1700s:
Forced conversion should cast a sufficient shadow over Serra's legacy. But he also oversaw a regime of violence against Native Americans: They were brutalized by Spanish soldiers at the Presidios of each Mission and, sometimes, by the missionaries themselves. Women were raped and left on their own to care for their children and, perhaps most devastatingly, tens of thousands of Native Americans were killed by exposure to disease, harsh labor conditions, and lack of access to medical care
[PS Mag]
We Don't See Any Kegs
…Tailgating Nuns!
Good Guy Francis
Pope Snubs Politicians To Eat With The Homeless In DC
The leader of the 1.2 billion-strong Roman Catholic church plans to dine with around 300 of the capital's less fortunate in a makeshift tent by the city's St. Patrick's Catholic church, the Independent reported. Francis declined the opportunity to lunch with capitol lawmakers during the same time.
[Mic]
Here are some photos from the lunch.
Thanks, Obama?
An Unequal Gift Exchange
According to NBC, Pope Francis came to America bearing a gift for the Library of Congress: "an extremely rare Bible that cost an estimated $8 million to produce." The Bible, which was commissioned by a Benedictine abbey, is "believed to be the first handwritten and illuminated bible produced since the invention of the printing press." Good gift! What did President Obama gave Pope Francis in return?… A bird sculpture and an old key?
[Fusion]
