"Pope Francis, in Washington, Addresses Poverty and Climate"

"WASHINGTON — Welcomed with a fanfare of trumpets and a chorus of amens, Pope Francis introduced himself to the United States on Wednesday with a bracing message on climate change, immigration and poverty that ranged from the pastoral to the political.

On a day that blended the splendor of an ancient church with the frenzy of a modern rock star tour, Francis waded quietly but forcefully into some of the most polarizing issues of American civic life. Along the way, he underscored just how much he has upended the agenda of the Roman Catholic Church and reordered its priorities.

Perhaps no one was more pleased than President Obama, who greeted him with an elaborate arrival ceremony at the White House, where the pope explicitly embraced the administration’s efforts to combat climate change. At a later speech to American bishops, Francis, the first pope from Latin America, pressed for openness to immigrants, marking a signal day for Hispanics in the United States."

Peter Baker and Michael D. Shear New York Times September 23, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"Pope Francis Backs Urgent Action on Climate Change, Lauds Obama's Climate Plan" (Mashable)

"Pope Faces Tough Crowd With Climate Plea" (The Hill)