{UAH} Pope's historic speech to US Congress moves entire globe to full excitement!

The observation from every angle of the globe where the Pope's address to the US Congress was followed

is that of full emotion and excitement! The Pope really spoke! That's the impression from cross sections of

individuals.

The event began this Thursday morning when the Pope arrived at Capitol buliding to address both senators and

representatives now united for the occasion in full Congress. Great crowds had already gathered and packed the

entire space overlooking the Capitol. When the Pope arrived he was frantically cheered by the tens of thousands of

cheering people waving banners and flags. He was first greeted by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr John

Boehner, a Catholic and a Republican who was so moved by the Pope's address which drew tears from his eyes!

Before all that the House was arranged to get set for the Pope's arrival. As big names entered and were applauded, a list of

senators and representatives was read and requested to line up somewhere in order to acclaim the Pope when he entered.

President Obama wasn't there as protocol only requests to enter the House only on the occasion of policy explanation. but the

vice President, Mr J. Biden, another very important US Catholic personality, who is the Speaker of the Senate was present.

At exactly 10.02 am ( local time) a bang was heard from the official entry to the Congress chamber, and the Speaker of the House

of Representatives ordered the House to get ready to welcome His Holiness. As the Pope entered he was greeted by deafening

cheers, ululations, and thick applauses. Then the Speaker of the Congress requested the Pope to deliver his address.

Speaking in well articulated English the Pope first expressed his joy for the invitation to the two chambers. This remark was welcomed with

a standing ovation! He reminded them that they had a vocation to preserve the dignity of society, to satisfy people's needs and to defend the

people, including the young and the old and the disabled. He observed that his invitation to Congress coincided with anniversary commemorations

in honour of four great Americans ( Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, a Catholic activist, and Thomas Merton, a Catholic writer and monk) the great statesmen who put things on to the march.(Applauses!)

In Lincoln, the pope observed, one saw the guardian of freedom and liberty and love for the common good of all. At this juncture the Pope

appealed to all to avoid all kinds of fundamentalism even in the economic systems! ( Applauses! )   

He further advised  the House to try to bring about that spirit of  supporting and holding each other  within the norms of  that respect that accep^ts

our dfferences ( Applauses! ) The Pope encouraged all to stick to such efforts.

The Pope turned to the martyrdom of Rev Martin Luther King fifty years ago. That his dream was an ivitation to all to participate in engagement

and action ( A standing ovation punctuated with cheers and ululations which drew tears of emotion from many! )

Alluding to his past the Pope went on to state that they were great because the Americas have made them what they now are, they who were once foreigners in the Americas ( Applauses! )

He cautioned on nation building and stated that building a nation required rejecting any bad spirit that doesn't help to promote solidarity.

Turning on the question of refugees tha Pope pointed out that the world was faced with that crisis, and advised on taking refugees as individuals

who had to be listened to and to whom nobody should turn his back ( A standing ovation ! )

It was at this juncture that the Pope threw in a warning when he stated that " Do to others what you want them to do to you!"

And that the yardstick you'll use to measureothers will be the one that will be used to measure you!  ( A standing ovation accompanied with ululations! ) It was at this point that the Pope took the opportunity to clarify his position on the necessity of defending life in all its stages and at all its levels. He further went on to condemn death penalty and asked for its abolition and instead opt for a stiff policy of rehabilitation to educate the condemned. ( Applauses ! )

He touched on poverty and appealed for equal distribution of riches and resources and the effort to create employment. He stated that there was need to really convert to true huma roots in order to fend off the crisis. He went on to say something about his recent great encyclical letter LAUDATO  SI and observed that we could all gather our efforts together and do something. That the US Congress had a role to play in order to fight poverty, to give dignity to the marginalized, and to protect the environment. ( Applauses! )

Towards the end of his speech the Pope touched on the issue of family and noted how it was more threatened at present than before. ( A standing ovation! ) He singled out the youth as being the most immediately vulnerable persons if things didn't go well in a family. He called upon all to help the youth to aspire towards the great American dream!

The Pope ended his 55-minute-long speech by calling upon God to bless America! ( A very long standing ovation full of vivats, ululations and cheers! )

The pope was then led to the famous Hall of Statues just close to the chamber and was requested to pose for a group photograph surrounded by the two Speakers. Hudreds of journalists were present around and outside where the very enthusiastic crowds also followed with excitement the Pope's very great speak which was directly transmitted to hundreds of millions of people all over the world.

Next action was to take the Pope and his entourage to the balcony of Capitol Building in order to wave to the people outside and to bless them. He received deafening cheers, vivats, and ululations when he appeared on that balcony surrounded by the US Vice President and the Speaker of the House of  Representatives. Speaking in Spanish the pope thanked the great crowds for their presence. and having given the blessing he thanked them in English : " Thank you very much, and God bless America! "

From the Capitol the Pope moved to St Francis Parish to visit the homeless. They were all impressed to see him in their midst and during a short service in the church he told them that even Jesus Christ himself didn't have shelter at his place of birth. That  showed how Jesus continued to suffer with us and

how he was always in solidarity with us.

Later on the pope was accompanied to the airport and took off for New York where he landed at the JFK International Airport from where he was helicoptered to the residence of the Vatican permanent observe to the UN. It was from there that he was driven in a popemobile to St Patrick's Cathedral, just half a kilometre away, to attend the evening Vespers service, and was massively cheered by the thick crowds along the streets. At the cathedral he was almost mobbed by the enthusiasm of the people. the service went on very well.

This Friday September 25, a very great event takes place, that's the Pope's address to the plenary session of the UN. The occasion is being described as a historic one where the pope is expected to read a key-note text that would contain a lot of solid substance!

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo  ( Paris / France )