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| Expectations high ahead of Pope Francis's historic address to Congress – live coverage | Expectations high ahead of Pope Francis's historic address to Congress – live coverage |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.48pm BST13:48 | |
| More from Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome: | |
| It is important to put this moment in historical context, which will not be lost on some of the Catholic politicians who will be sitting in the gallery. The US has a long history of anti-Catholic bigotry, which was fuelled by white protestants in the 20th century by groups like the Ku Klux Klan, which saw the faith as a threat to American democracy. By the beginning of the 20th century, noted James Martin in America magazine, one-sixth of the population in the US was Catholic, but Catholicism was not really assimilated into society until the 1950s and 1960s. | |
| And yet, it would have been unheard of for a pope to speak before Congress. When John F Kennedy, the only Catholic president in US history, was running for office, he had to give a now-famous speech to a group of protestant ministers in which he reaffirmed that he was not a “Catholic candidate”, but the Democratic candidate who happened to be Catholic, and one that would not take orders from his church. | |
| Given today’s events, it is somewhat ironic that Kennedy urged his audience at the time to consider the “real issues” of the day, including the “spread of communist influence until it now festers only 90 miles from the coast of Florida”. The speech would become a model for other candidates whose personal biographies were considered “different”, including candidate Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech on race in 2008 and Republican Mitt Romney’s speech on his Mormon faith in his first run for president in 2007. | |
| You can watch Kennedy’s historic speech here. | |
| 1.29pm BST13:29 | |
| Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner, who will welcome Pope Francis to congress today, has written a post to his blog detailing the order of today’s proceedings as well as his thoughts about them. | |
| “By about 9:15, I will be in my ceremonial office across from the House floor, getting ready to greet him. People have asked me what I’ll be thinking about. It’s not really a quiet moment, per since you’ve got a pack of photographers there waiting too. | |
| One thing I can tell you: typically, I ask our guest how their economy is doing, and go from there. Will have to think of something else. | |
| It’ll come to me. | |
| It does contain some fascinating titbits about the morning’s procedures. At 10:01 and 30 seconds, the speaker says: “...history. Paul Irving, the House Sergeant-at-Arms, will make the announcement: ‘Mr. Speaker, the Pope of the Holy See.’” | |
| Boehner ends: | |
| When you grow up Catholic, you learn about the Pope as a distant figure, closer to God than any of us. To have him here, at our Capitol, among our people, is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. A glimpse of grace. | |
| Updated at 1.32pm BST | |
| 1.27pm BST13:27 | |
| Later today, Pope Francis will travel to New York. Police commissioner Bill Bratton - who is in charge of what has been called an “unprecedented” security operation for the visit - especially as it is taking place during the UN General Assembly - just tweeted a message of welcome to the pontiff: | |
| My message to the members of the NYPD regarding the Pope's visit to NYC. http://t.co/8bfnmFBCQ2 pic.twitter.com/wCqMVIgreV | |
| Updated at 1.28pm BST | |
| 1.24pm BST13:24 | |
| Dan is inside the House of Representatives press gallery right now, and it’s rather crowded... | |
| 1.14pm BST13:14 | 1.14pm BST13:14 |
| Nuns from the order of the Servants of the Lord pose for a photograph as they wait outside the U.S. Capitol for a chance to see Pope Francis in Washington. Francis is expected to greet the crowd outside from a balcony after addressing members of Congress. | Nuns from the order of the Servants of the Lord pose for a photograph as they wait outside the U.S. Capitol for a chance to see Pope Francis in Washington. Francis is expected to greet the crowd outside from a balcony after addressing members of Congress. |
| 12.59pm BST12:59 | 12.59pm BST12:59 |
| It is customary for representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas to arrive hours in advance to stake out her seat on the aisle of the chamber for a State of the Union address, so that she can shake hands and take a picture with the President. | It is customary for representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas to arrive hours in advance to stake out her seat on the aisle of the chamber for a State of the Union address, so that she can shake hands and take a picture with the President. |
| Fox News’ Gretawire blog reports that while congressional leadership have tried to discourage that by blocking access to the centre aisle. | Fox News’ Gretawire blog reports that while congressional leadership have tried to discourage that by blocking access to the centre aisle. |
| But Dan Roberts confirms that, nonetheless, Lee is there early as usual - staking out a seat, as close as she can get to where the pope will pass. | But Dan Roberts confirms that, nonetheless, Lee is there early as usual - staking out a seat, as close as she can get to where the pope will pass. |
| 12.52pm BST12:52 | 12.52pm BST12:52 |
| This is a sneak peek from the Guardian’s DC bureau chief Dan Roberts of the chamber of the US House of Representatives, where Pope Francis will speak. | This is a sneak peek from the Guardian’s DC bureau chief Dan Roberts of the chamber of the US House of Representatives, where Pope Francis will speak. |
| It’s where the State of the Union address and all joint speeches to congress are held. “I’m told we may get some Supreme Court justices today too, so it will really feel like a State Of The Union,” Dan says. | It’s where the State of the Union address and all joint speeches to congress are held. “I’m told we may get some Supreme Court justices today too, so it will really feel like a State Of The Union,” Dan says. |
| 12.43pm BST12:43 | 12.43pm BST12:43 |
| Stephanie Kirchgaessner | Stephanie Kirchgaessner |
| Some context this morning from Guardian correspondent Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome. | Some context this morning from Guardian correspondent Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome. |
| When Francis steps up to the podium today in the US Capitol, he will be the first pope to address a joint session of Congress, an occasion that is usually reserved for visiting heads of state. Anticipation has reached a fever pitch - both in Washington and around the world - precisely because this pope is expected to speak on issues that are central to the highly-partisan and often bitter debates that consume American politics today: the environment, immigration, poverty, and the US role in the world. | When Francis steps up to the podium today in the US Capitol, he will be the first pope to address a joint session of Congress, an occasion that is usually reserved for visiting heads of state. Anticipation has reached a fever pitch - both in Washington and around the world - precisely because this pope is expected to speak on issues that are central to the highly-partisan and often bitter debates that consume American politics today: the environment, immigration, poverty, and the US role in the world. |
| To be sure, his speech will not be a bland recitation that seeks only to please and assure the gathered lawmakers. While most Vatican watchers believe the pope’s primary motivation for visiting the US was to attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia this weekend, he clearly sees his visit to the nation’s capital as an opportunity to issue a call to conscience and challenge lawmakers on the issues at the heart of his papacy. | To be sure, his speech will not be a bland recitation that seeks only to please and assure the gathered lawmakers. While most Vatican watchers believe the pope’s primary motivation for visiting the US was to attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia this weekend, he clearly sees his visit to the nation’s capital as an opportunity to issue a call to conscience and challenge lawmakers on the issues at the heart of his papacy. |
| Francis has already indicated in speeches that he is not shying away from controversy. Although his language is not abrasive, his repeated references to himself as the son of immigrants, for example, marks an attempt not only to identify with the American experience, but to gently chastise those who have vilified immigrants as freeloaders who take but do not enrich society. He will seek not to lecture, but to nudge the assembled politicians - who are overwhelmingly Christian - to see things from a different and more nuanced perspective, and to free themselves of political rigidity. | Francis has already indicated in speeches that he is not shying away from controversy. Although his language is not abrasive, his repeated references to himself as the son of immigrants, for example, marks an attempt not only to identify with the American experience, but to gently chastise those who have vilified immigrants as freeloaders who take but do not enrich society. He will seek not to lecture, but to nudge the assembled politicians - who are overwhelmingly Christian - to see things from a different and more nuanced perspective, and to free themselves of political rigidity. |
| The pope will stand in front of John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the House, and Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic vice president who also has the role of president of the Senate. Both men are Catholic and represent the diversity of views within the church across the political spectrum. As a savvy operator, the pope knows he cannot just appeal to one of them. | The pope will stand in front of John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the House, and Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic vice president who also has the role of president of the Senate. Both men are Catholic and represent the diversity of views within the church across the political spectrum. As a savvy operator, the pope knows he cannot just appeal to one of them. |
| Updated at 12.45pm BST | Updated at 12.45pm BST |
| 12.20pm BST12:20 | 12.20pm BST12:20 |
| If the sunrise was anything to go by, it’s looking set to be a spectacularly beautiful day in Washington, DC for Pope Francis’ address to Congress. | If the sunrise was anything to go by, it’s looking set to be a spectacularly beautiful day in Washington, DC for Pope Francis’ address to Congress. |
| Check out the sky....unedited photo. #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/8cO5RFSOcW | Check out the sky....unedited photo. #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/8cO5RFSOcW |
| 12.07pm BST12:07 | 12.07pm BST12:07 |
| Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of day three of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. | Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of day three of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. |
| It's a beautiful morning at the Capitol for Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/HGJTeoz3um | It's a beautiful morning at the Capitol for Pope Francis. pic.twitter.com/HGJTeoz3um |
| After a politically-charged speech urging action on climate change at the White House yesterday, expectations are high for the pontiff’s speech to a joint session of both houses of Congress, scheduled for 9.20am ET (1.20pm GMT) today. | After a politically-charged speech urging action on climate change at the White House yesterday, expectations are high for the pontiff’s speech to a joint session of both houses of Congress, scheduled for 9.20am ET (1.20pm GMT) today. |
| After that, Francis will visit St. Patrick’s Catholic church and the Catholic charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, before heading back to Andrews Joint Air Base to fly to New York City. Here’s his full schedule: | After that, Francis will visit St. Patrick’s Catholic church and the Catholic charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, before heading back to Andrews Joint Air Base to fly to New York City. Here’s his full schedule: |
| 9.20am (1.20pm GMT): Pope Francis addresses a joint session of the US Congress. On the West Front of the US Capitol, a jumbotron broadcast shows the event. This is the first time a reigning pontiff has ever addressed Congress. | 9.20am (1.20pm GMT): Pope Francis addresses a joint session of the US Congress. On the West Front of the US Capitol, a jumbotron broadcast shows the event. This is the first time a reigning pontiff has ever addressed Congress. |
| 11.15am (3.15pm GMT): Pope Francis meets with the poor and the homeless during a visit to St Patrick in the City and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. Later that afternoon, he departs for New York. | 11.15am (3.15pm GMT): Pope Francis meets with the poor and the homeless during a visit to St Patrick in the City and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. Later that afternoon, he departs for New York. |
| 6.45pm (10.45pm GMT): The pope leads the evening prayer at a Vespers service at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The event is only open to clergy of St Patrick’s Cathedral. | 6.45pm (10.45pm GMT): The pope leads the evening prayer at a Vespers service at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The event is only open to clergy of St Patrick’s Cathedral. |
| It’s going to be an eventful day. Stay tuned for live updates. | It’s going to be an eventful day. Stay tuned for live updates. |
| Updated at 12.12pm BST | Updated at 12.12pm BST |