What an Inspiration! President Maryanne Stevens Reflects on Hearing Pope Francis Address Congress

I surprised myself with tears when Pope Francis entered the Congressional chambers. First there was Vice President Biden, then Speaker of the House Boehner and the Senate members, followed by the Supreme Court justices and the Diplomatic Corps. Then about five minutes later the Speaker announced the Pope. I thought what a miracle. Fifty-some years ago we were, as a country, afraid to elect a Catholic to the Presidency fearing the Pope would be telling him what to do. And, here we are today with Congress welcoming with a standing ovation – the Pope!  

And what a leader this Pope is, calling us to our highest ideals by asking us to recall Abraham Lincoln whose presidency was during the bloodiest death dealing war of our history and who brokered an end to slavery even with a very fractured Congress…to recall Martin Luther King's dream of inclusiveness at a time when many want to exclude immigrants and refugees…to recall Dorothy Day, a special hero of mine. (Her autobiography The Long Loneliness inspires me still. Day had the ideals of a socialist and she founded a string of homeless shelters needed because our economic structures leave some on the sidelines without food or shelter)...and to recall Thomas Merton, a contemplative monk, who was instrumental through his writings in opening Catholicism to other religions.

The pope's message can be simply stated: that all may be one. We are in this world together and we are at our best when we care for one another, and realize that we need care for the earth as well. The message is simple, the way to realize it is complicated and difficult; it takes smart decisions and hard work, similar to the work of Lincoln and King. But we must pass on hope to the next generation. Francis clearly loves the young – such hope is within the purview of all of us.

It was simply a great joy to be in the Congressional gallery today. My special thanks to Senator Fischer.