{"id":17422,"date":"2015-09-24T08:01:40","date_gmt":"2015-09-24T15:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spijue.wpengine.com\/news\/papa-pope-stirs-excitement-in-dc-calls-for-climate-action\/"},"modified":"2015-09-24T08:01:40","modified_gmt":"2015-09-24T15:01:40","slug":"papa-pope-stirs-excitement-in-dc-calls-for-climate-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/news\/papa-pope-stirs-excitement-in-dc-calls-for-climate-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Papa! Pope stirs excitement in DC, calls for climate action"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON \u2014<\/strong> Cheered by jubilant crowds across the nation\u2019s capital, Pope Francis forged common cause Wednesday with President Barack Obama on climate change, immigration and inequality, as the popular pontiff signaled he would not sidestep issues that have deeply divided Americans.<\/p>\n

On his first full day in the United States, the pope also reached out to America\u2019s 450 bishops, many of whom have struggled to come to terms with his new social justice-minded direction for the Catholic Church. He gently prodded the bishops to forgo \u201charsh and divisive language,\u201d while commending their \u201ccourage\u201d in the face of the church\u2019s sexual abuse scandal \u2014 rhetoric that angered victims he may meet with later in his trip.<\/p>\n

Late in the day, Francis \u2014 the first pope from the Americas \u2014 canonized Junipero Serra, the famous 18th century Spanish friar who brought the Catholic faith to California.<\/p>\n

The massive security apparatus protecting Pope Francis on his historic, six-day trip to the United States got its first test as a 5-year-old California girl with a T-shirt and a message about immigration for the pontiff made her way through a security barrier and onto his parade route.<\/p>\n

Sophie Cruz of suburban Los Angeles initially shied away as a pair of security officials approached her before she was encouraged to approach the vehicle by Francis himself. Then she was quickly whisked to Francis\u2019 modified, open-air Jeep popemobile, where the pope did what this pope so often does: He gave her a hug and kiss.<\/p>\n

The 78-year-old pontiff\u2019s whirlwind day in Washington enlivened the often stoic, politically polarized city. Excited crowds lined streets near the White House to catch a glimpse of the smiling and waving Francis as he passed by in his open-air \u201cpopemobile.\u201d <\/p>\n

In keeping with his reputation as the \u201cpeople\u2019s pope,\u201d Francis kept Obama and other dignitaries at the White House waiting so he could spend time greeting schoolchildren gathered outside the Vatican\u2019s diplomatic mission where he spent the night.<\/p>\n

The pope\u2019s remarks at the White House were brief, yet pointed.<\/p>\n

Speaking in soft, halting English, Francis said that as the son of an immigrant family, he was \u201chappy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families.\u201d <\/p>\n

Francis was enthusiastic in his embrace of Obama\u2019s climate change agenda, specifically praising the president for taking steps to reduce air pollution. In a firm message to those who doubt the science of climate change, he said the warming planet \u201cdemands on our part a serious and responsible recognition\u201d of the world that will be left to today\u2019s children.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation,\u201d said Francis, who has been pressing his environmental message ahead of climate change talks in Paris later this year.<\/p>\n

The pope\u2019s messages were warmly welcomed by Obama, who has prodded his Republican rivals for action on immigration and climate change with limited success. In his own remarks heralding the pope\u2019s arrival at the White House, Obama thanked Francis for reminding the world of the \u201csacred obligation to protect our planet – God\u2019s magnificent gift to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pope and president were also aligned in their call for addressing global poverty and inequality, with Obama praising Francis\u2019 call to put \u201cthe least of these at the center of our concern.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pope had something for conservatives, too, with a clear call to protect religious liberties \u2014 \u201cone of America\u2019s most precious possessions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll are called to be vigilant,\u2019 he said, \u201cto preserve and defend that freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it.\u201d<\/p>\n

U.S. bishops and conservatives who have objected to the Obama administration\u2019s health care mandate and the recent Supreme Court legalization of same-sex marriage have made religious freedom a rallying cry, with a largely domestic focus.<\/p>\n

After their opening remarks on the lawn, Obama and Francis met one-on-one for 40 minutes in the Oval Office, joined only by an interpreter. White House aides said the discussion was private, and declined to say whether the leaders addressed subjects on which they sharply differ, including abortion and gay marriage.<\/p>\n

While the pope\u2019s visit was analyzed for political implications in a city already consumed by next year\u2019s U.S. presidential election, for Catholics and many other Americans Francis\u2019 six-day, three-city trip to the U.S. is an opportunity to connect with a humble church leader who has rejuvenated many of the country\u2019s believers.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s made the church more of an obtainable thing,\u201d said Nigel Stacy, a law student who arrived at the White House in the middle of the night to get a good place to stand for the arrival ceremony. \u201cIt\u2019s more relatable. You see what he does and you can see yourself emulating that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Washington resident Theresa Wellman, who brought her mother and five children to watch the pope\u2019s parade through the streets of the nation\u2019s capital, called Francis \u201ca breath of fresh air.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s changed the tone into a loving, merciful church to serve the poor,\u201d Wellman said.<\/p>\n

The church\u2019s leadership in the U.S. has sometimes been more skeptical of the pope, wary of the divide between his focus on a merciful church and the culture wars that America\u2019s bishops have been involved in over abortion and gay rights.<\/p>\n

In his remarks to U.S. bishops at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Francis emphasized one of the defining messages of his papacy, to focus less on defending church teaching and more on compassion. The pope told the American church leaders that \u201charsh and divisive language does not befit the tongue of a pastor\u201d and he encouraged them to speak with anyone, no matter their views.<\/p>\n

In his first comments in the U.S. on the clergy sex abuse scandal that erupted in 2002, the pope praised the bishops for a \u201cgenerous commitment to bring healing to victims\u201d and for acting \u201cwithout fear of self-criticism.\u201d<\/p>\n

An organization for abuse victims quickly disagreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost without exception, they have shown cowardice and callousness and continue to do so now,\u201d said Barbara Dorris, president of SNAP, or Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.<\/p>\n

Under public pressure, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops pledged to oust any guilty clergy from church work and enact safeguards for children. However, some victims say the bishops still haven\u2019t fully accounted for sheltering abusers. This year, three bishops resigned over their failures to protect children.<\/p>\n

Later Wednesday, Francis celebrated a Mass of Canonization, the first ever on U.S. soil, for Junipero Serra in Spanish. Several thousand of the 25,000 tickets to the event were set aside for Spanish-speaking people, many from California. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception erected a temporary sanctuary outdoors for the Mass, which lasted into the evening.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Francis planned to deliver the first papal address ever to Congress, speaking to Republican-majority legislators deeply at odds with Obama on many of the same issues the leaders addressed at the White House.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Associated Press writers Nancy Benac, Darlene Superville, Kevin Freking, Stacy A. Anderson, Juliet Linderman and Jessica Gresko in Washington and Religion Writer Rachel Zoll in New York contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Follow Julie Pace at http:\/\/twitter.com\/jpaceDC and Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com\/nwinfield<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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