On the last day of his trip to Washington, D.C., Pope Francis arrived on Capitol Hill around 9:15 Thursday morning.
Francis first met with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, before he entered the House chamber for a joint session of Congress.
This event marks the first time a pope has addressed Congress—a goal Boehner, a Catholic himself, has had long before his ascension to speaker.
Here are 28 tweets from members of Congress:
First time in history: the Pope stands in the Hall of the House before joint meeting of Congress. #PopeInDC #PopeInUS pic.twitter.com/4TsmCjsmDY
— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) September 24, 2015
Guests from all over the USA are excited to view @Pontifex visit to the U.S. Capitol from the West Lawn in Washington pic.twitter.com/BDxrHBQb7A — Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) September 24, 2015
Looking forward to @Pontifex historic speech to Congress this morning; good to have @RealBenCarson as my guest pic.twitter.com/Hw7q849Ej7
— Mark Sanford (@RepSanfordSC) September 24, 2015
.@pontifex has arrived! #PopeInDC #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/W8cXfPDaCV — Rep. Norma Torres (@NormaJTorres) September 24, 2015
.@Pontifex: “I am most grateful for your invitation to address this Joint Session of Congress…” http://t.co/QlIc8CwTvK
— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) September 24, 2015
Welcome @GovChristie – So pleased to have New Jersey representation for this historic event! #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/stEghvTwxG — Tom MacArthur (@RepTomMacArthur) September 24, 2015
Outside the Capitol Building this morning. #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/bHVzeu6f40
— John Kline (@repjohnkline) September 24, 2015
Pope Francis discussing inspiring work of 4 Americans: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day & Thomas Merton. — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) September 24, 2015
“You are asked to protect, by means of the law, the image & likeness fashioned by God on every human life”-@Pontifex http://t.co/2rpEUfEuhf
— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) September 24, 2015
“Legislative activity is always based on care for the people.” @Pontifex says. #PopeInDC — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) September 24, 2015
#PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/iO7xHO0xD6
— Cong. Tim Huelskamp (@CongHuelskamp) September 24, 2015
We are excited to hear @Pontifex‘s message of hope and peace today! #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/N9yiGfDla9
— Rep. Lois Frankel (@RepLoisFrankel) September 24, 2015
Pope says he is honored to speak “in the land of the free and the home of the brave.” #PopeInDC — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) September 24, 2015
good advice https://t.co/3ZffXTHoFj
— Bill Foster (@RepBillFoster) September 24, 2015
Feeling inspired at the @uscapitol. Pope Francis, may your words spur us to pursue peace and help the most vulnerable. #PopeInDC @Pontifex — Brenda Lawrence (@RepLawrence) September 24, 2015
.@Pontifex challenging US to rise to the occasion with allies in an increasingly violent world. #PopeInDC #PopeInUS — Charles Boustany (@RepBoustany) September 24, 2015
Pope Francis stresses need to safeguard religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms. #1A #PopeinDC
— Cong. Tim Huelskamp (@CongHuelskamp) September 24, 2015
My view on the House Floor listening to @Pontifex‘s speech. Wise words from Pope Francis. #PopeinDC. pic.twitter.com/m8dFs3oFN4 — Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) September 24, 2015
An honor to welcome @Pontifex along with my colleagues to give his speech in front of Congress. #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/uYCBNEWXZQ
— Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) September 24, 2015
“I’m happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of dreams,” @Pontifex #PopeInDC — Rep. Juan Vargas (@RepJuanVargas) September 24, 2015
.@Pontifex: “America continues to be a land of dreams.” #PopeInDC #PopeInUS
— Charles Boustany (@RepBoustany) September 24, 2015
#PopeFrancis speaks about importance of “respect for our differences and our convictions of conscience.” #PopeInDC http://t.co/374Kx33chO — Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) September 24, 2015
“You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good” #Pope
— Loretta Sanchez (@LorettaSanchez) September 24, 2015
#PopeFrancis: “Let us remember the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” #PopeinDC — Rep. Dan Kildee (@RepDanKildee) September 24, 2015
“Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated.” #PopeInDC
— Bill Foster (@RepBillFoster) September 24, 2015
.@Pontifex praises all “who strive each day to do honest day’s work, bring home their daily bread…build a better life for their families.”
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) September 24, 2015
#PopeFrancis: “protect & defend human life at every stage of its development” #PopeInDC #PopeInUS #ProLife http://t.co/d9upDaZaag — Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) September 24, 2015
#PopeFrancis – (We) must aim at restoring hope, righting wrongs, … and thus promoting the well-being of … people. pic.twitter.com/9FKlgFPUFv
— Brenda Lawrence (@RepLawrence) September 24, 2015