Images: Pope Francis in D.C., Day 2
Pope Francis was welcomed enthusiastically Thursday to a House chamber packed with Supreme Court justices, Cabinet officials, and lawmakers of both parties, uniting the bickering factions before he even opened his mouth as all stood to cheer his arrival. The sergeant at arms intoned "Mr. Speaker, the pope of the Holy See," and Francis made his way up the center aisle in his white robes, moving slowly as lawmakers applauded, some inclining their heads in bows.
After the speech, he appeared on a Capitol balcony and briefly addressed a cheering crowd of thousands below on the lawn and the Mall beyond. "Buenos dias," he called out, and the crowd thundered its response. "God bless America!" he concluded, as he had in the House chamber.
Thursday's speech was the latest highlight for the pope's whirlwind three-day visit to Washington, the first stop on a three-city U.S. tour.
Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so. Listening behind the pope are Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pope Francis uses his hands to make a point during his address before a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pope Francis reads from his script as he addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
People watch Pope Francis on a large screen television from the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, as the Pope speaks inside before a joint meeting of Congress. The Pope Francis is the first pontiff in history to speak before a joint meeting of Congress.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Pope Francis arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, to address a joint meeting of Congress.
(Michael Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)
Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Francis smiles as he walks into the House chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, before addressing a joint meeting of Congress.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Pope Francis is applauded as he arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, to address a joint meeting of Congress, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
People wait for Pope Francis to appear from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. The Pope will address a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington is closed to vehicles, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, as people walk to get through security to see Pope Francis appear from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill. The Pope will addresses a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio greets Pope Francis on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, as the Pope arrived before addressing a joint meeting.
(Bill Clark/Roll Call/ via AP, Pool)
Pope Francis arrives to address a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio applaud Pope Francis after his address before a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pope Francis arrives to address a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Francis checks his watch as he leaves the House chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, after addressing a joint meeting of Congress, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
U.S. Vice President Joseph "Joe" Biden, center, applauds as House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, right, greets Pope Francis, second from left, as he arrives to speak to a joint meeting of Congress in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. Pope Francis, the first pontiff to address U.S. Congress, is preaching to a less-than-harmonious congregation as he faces a Congress riven by disputes over issues closest to his heart: income inequality, immigration and climate change.
Pete Marovich/Bloomberg
Mark Perez wears buttons, including one bearing the image of Pope Francis while waiting for him to arrive at the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. When asked what he plans to say to the Pope, Perez replied, "Stay blessed and not stress, that's my slogan." The charity serves dinner to about 300 homeless people daily at the site, and it will serve a meal during the pope's visit.
(AP Photo/David Goldman, Pool)
Kaydn Dorsey, 4, left, and Lionel Perkins, 4, draw on a coloring sheet bearing the image of Pope Francis as they wait for him to arrive on a visit to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. The charity serves dinner to about 300 homeless people daily at the site, and it will serve a meal during the pope's visit.
(AP Photo/David Goldman, Pool)
People wait for Pope Francis to appear from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. The Pope will address a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Pope Francis paused before a statue dedicated to Joseph Damien De Veuster, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, prior to his address before a joint meeting on Congress. De Veuster was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 11, 2009.
(Michael Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)
Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
The sun begins to rise as people gather on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, for a chance to see Pope Francis. The pope spoke to the crowd outside from a balcony after his address to a joint meeting of Congress.
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Pope Francis listens to applause before addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so.
(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The sky begins to lighten over the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in the heart of Washington, where Pope Francis is staying. Later this morning the Pope will address a joint meeting of Congress Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015.
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Pope Francis waves as he departs the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, en route to the Capitol to address a joint meeting of Congress.
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Pope Francis, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, blesses an unidentified child on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, after his address before a joint meeting of Congress.
(Michael Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. talks with members on the floor of the House on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, while waiting for Pope Francis to address a joint meeting of Congress. The Pope will make history as the first pontiff to speak to Congress. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Pope Francis hugs a young boy while greeting schoolchildren before his departure from the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, en route to the Capitol to address a joint meeting of Congress.
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Pope Francis sticks his arm out the window of his Fiat 500L as he departs the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, en route to the Capitol to address a joint meeting of Congress.
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up while greeting schoolchildren before departing the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, en route to the Capitol to address a joint meeting of Congress.
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., takes a photo of the crowd as they wait for Pope Francis to appear from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. The Pope addressed a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so before speaking on the balcony.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
People wait for Pope Francis to appear from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, after the pope addressed a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Congressional staffers and guests strain to view and photograph the departure of Pope Francis in his Fiat 500L, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, after his speech before a joint meeting of Congress.
(AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Democratic Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., listens to Pope Francis' address before a joint meeting of Congress, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Ikeita Cantu of McLean, Va., left, stands alongside her wife, Carmen Guzman, outside the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, as they wait for a chance to see Pope Francis speak, after his address to a joint session of Congress.
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
A mother who wished not to be identified kneels in prayer with her daughters as Pope Francis appears on the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, after his address to a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so.
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
People wait for Pope Francis to appear from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, after the pope addressed a joint meeting of Congress.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Paul Marich of Woodbridge, Va., prays the rosary as he waits outside the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, for a chance to see the Pope Francis after his address to a joint session of Congress.
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Pope Francis, accompanied by, from left, Vice President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, speaks to the crowd from the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, after his address to a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so.
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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