“A better world for ALL humankind!”     This is the clear message I hear from Pope Francis visit to Washington, New York, and Philadelphia. Even as a non-Roman Catholic, a Presbyterian Pastor, I feel blessed to have this opportunity these past few days to hear what this great “unifier” boldly, has to say.   My personal challenge will be in integrating what I hear into my life. This challenge in mind, I have prepared this blog to share with others.

Packed with carefully crafted insights, I share through this blog links to the speech to the congress and the homily at St. Peter’s.

One short statement made by Pope Francis in concluding his speach to the to the congress:

A nation can be considered great when it defends liberty as Lincoln did, when it fosters a culture which enables people to “dream” of full rights for all their brothers and sisters, as Martin Luther King sought to do; when it strives for justice and the cause of the oppressed, as Dorothy Day did by her tireless work, the fruit of a faith which becomes dialogue and sows peace in the contemplative style of Thomas Merton.

In these remarks I have sought to present some of the richness of your cultural heritage, of the spirit of the American people. It is my desire that this spirit continue to develop and grow, so that as many young people as possible can inherit and dwell in a land which has inspired so many people to dream.

God bless America!”

Link to Speech to congress:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/24/politics/pope-francis-congress-speech/index.html

Link to Homily during Evening Vespers at St. Peter’s Cathedral:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/nyregion/pope-francis-homily-at-st-patricks-cathedral.html?_r=0