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Emotional Speaker John Boehner relishes pope's speech to Congress

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Emotional Speaker John Boehner relishes pope's speech to Congress

WASHINGTON — For House Speaker John Boehner, every second of this historic day was special — personally thrilling, politically significant, spiritually fulfilling, and most of all, emotionally overwhelming.

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Fresh from enrapturing crowds all over Washington, Pope Francis is bringing his message of humility and hope to Capitol Hill as he becomes the first pontiff in history to speak to a joint meeting of Congress. (Sept. 24) AP

WASHINGTON — For House Speaker John Boehner, every second of this historic day was special — personally thrilling, politically significant, spiritually fulfilling, and most of all, emotionally overwhelming.

“What a day,” Boehner said Thursday, at the end of the first-ever papal address to a joint session of Congress. “What a moment for our country.  … The Holy Father’s visit is surely a blessing for all of us.”

For Boehner, it was not just a blessing but a lifelong dream come true. He had asked three different pope’s to speak to Congress, extending the first invitation more than 20 years ago, and he was overjoyed when Pope Francis became the first to accept.

Boehner and an army of his aides planned every detail of the day. The speaker rose early and carefully picked out a green tie, his favorite color, to go with his usual well-cut dark suit. He skipped his regular stop at Pete’s Diner, where he grabs breakfast on most days he’s in Washington, to get something lighter at his office.

By 9:15, the speaker was in his ceremonial office across from the House floor, ready for a personal meeting with the pontiff. Five minutes later, Pope Francis entered and Boehner greeted him with a handshake and a smile.

“Your holiness, welcome, really glad that you’re here,” the former altar boy from Reading, Ohio, told Pope Francis.

Boehner’s eyes moistened as the pope told him he, too, was glad to be there, according to an account of the meeting distributed to reporters.

The two men sat down next to each other, accompanied by Vatican and church officials and Boehner aides. With photographers’ cameras whirring, Boehner told the pontiff his staff urged him to wear the green tie. Pope Francis complimented the speaker’s choice, through his interpreter.

“He says it’s a tie with the color of hope,” the interpreter told Boehner.

“I need a lot of hope today,” Boehner responded.

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Indeed, the backdrop for this carefully choreographed, uplifting moment could not be more incongruous: Congress mired in partisan muck over funding for Planned Parenthood, which could trigger a chaotic government shutdown.

Boehner appeared to be trying to push that conflict — which also threatens his speakership, as conservatives push him to take a hard line — to the back of his mind Thursday. He wanted no talk of shutdown politics, although he clearly hoped the pope’s remarkable speech would cause lawmakers to take a deep breath and to heed “our higher callings,” as he put in an interview Monday.

“With great blessings, of course, come great responsibility,” Boehner said in his post-pope speech statement.  “Let us all go forth with gratitude and reflect on how we can better serve one another.”

In their meeting, Pope Francis gave Boehner a framed Liberty Bell commemorating the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia this week—the same gift the pope gave to President Obama.

Boehner gave Pope Francis a sterling silver water pitcher with the seal of the speaker on one side. Engraved on the other side was this: “His Holiness Pope Francis, Holy See, September 24, 2015.”

Then, at 9:46 sharp, Boehner arrived in the speaker’s chair and called the House to order. His specially selected guests — including his wife Debbie, his childhood friend Jerry Vanden Eynden, and former Speaker Newt Gingrich — were seated in the House gallery. And 15 minutes later, the House sergeant-at-arms made this announcement: “Mr. Speaker, the pope of the Holy See.”

“History!” Boehner declared in an online essay detailing Thursday’s schedule of events.

As the pope opened his speech, Boehner already had tears in his eyes and a handkerchief at the ready. Boehner knew the pope’s speech could test his political ideology. And Pope Francis did, with forceful pleas for lawmakers to address climate change, to welcome immigrants, to abolish the death penalty—all messages that sparked warm applause from Democrats and cautious claps from Republicans.

Pope Francis is greeted by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and Vice President Biden on Capitol Hill on Sept. 24, 2015. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP)

The pope also touched on issues important to conservatives, suggesting traditional marriage was under attack and calling for the protection of “human life at every stage of development.”

Boehner and his aides had warned lawmakers to be on their best behavior — hoping they would not turn the pope’s address into a partisan clapping match. And for the most part, they obeyed — giving him several standing ovations at key moments without dividing into polarized camps over certain catch-phrases.

That came right after, as lawmakers singled out their favorite lines from the pope’s address in flurry of dueling press releases.

“I was struck by his simple defense of the unborn,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who is leading the charge to defund Planned Parenthood and pushing Boehner into a showdown with Obama over the issue. “It has been one of my greatest priorities in office to do just that, and I am glad that the pope specifically focused on this great moral issue as we look ahead to funding the government this fall.”

Sen. Sherrod Brown, a liberal Democrat from Ohio, highlighted the pope’s pitch to care for the poor.

“Pope Francis’ address to Congress today outlined why it’s critical that we embrace all people in our global community – especially the poor and overlooked – with understanding and compassion,” Brown said. “His unifying message should remind us all to serve our neighbors and embrace the ‘golden rule’ present in most of the world’s major religions.”

Boehner steered clear of the political commentary and tried to focus on the spiritual. After the pope concluded his 45-minute address, Boehner and Vice President Biden escorted the pope out of the chamber and onto the speaker’s balcony.

There, the pope greeted a throng of well-wishers gathered on the Capitol’s West Lawn. Biden smiled broadly and looked out at the adoring crowd, but Boehner kept his teary eyes glued to the pope. Appearing overcome with emotion, he seemed to want that moment to last forever.

“I’m so proud that so many came to greet the pope here at our Capitol, the world’s greatest symbol of democracy,” he said afterward.

But political reality returned quickly, once the pope went off to lunch with Washington’s homeless and lawmakers turned their attention back to the divisive spending fight. A few hours after the pope left the Capitol, Boehner called Jordan and other conservatives to a meeting in his office to talk about their demand to defund Planned Parenthood in the government spending bill — a tactic Boehner fears will fail and will hurt the GOP.

Jordan declined to comment on the discussion. But another lawmaker, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., said he thought the speaker would lose 50 Republican votes if he pushes for a "clean" spending bill that does not strip Planned Parenthood of its funding.

Asked if conservatives would push for Boehner's ouster if he doesn't take a hard line on Planned Parenthood, Mulvaney demurred. "All I know is any member — any member — can bring up that motion" to remove Boehner from the speaker's chair, he said.

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1KxzK6Z

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Emotional Speaker John Boehner relishes pope's speech to Congress

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Emotional Speaker John Boehner relishes pope's speech to Congress

WASHINGTON — For House Speaker John Boehner, every second of this historic day was special — personally thrilling, politically significant, spiritually fulfilling, and most of all, emotionally overwhelming.

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Fresh from enrapturing crowds all over Washington, Pope Francis is bringing his message of humility and hope to Capitol Hill as he becomes the first pontiff in history to speak to a joint meeting of Congress. (Sept. 24) AP

WASHINGTON — For House Speaker John Boehner, every second of this historic day was special — personally thrilling, politically significant, spiritually fulfilling, and most of all, emotionally overwhelming.

“What a day,” Boehner said Thursday, at the end of the first-ever papal address to a joint session of Congress. “What a moment for our country.  … The Holy Father’s visit is surely a blessing for all of us.”

For Boehner, it was not just a blessing but a lifelong dream come true. He had asked three different pope’s to speak to Congress, extending the first invitation more than 20 years ago, and he was overjoyed when Pope Francis became the first to accept.

Boehner and an army of his aides planned every detail of the day. The speaker rose early and carefully picked out a green tie, his favorite color, to go with his usual well-cut dark suit. He skipped his regular stop at Pete’s Diner, where he grabs breakfast on most days he’s in Washington, to get something lighter at his office.

By 9:15, the speaker was in his ceremonial office across from the House floor, ready for a personal meeting with the pontiff. Five minutes later, Pope Francis entered and Boehner greeted him with a handshake and a smile.

“Your holiness, welcome, really glad that you’re here,” the former altar boy from Reading, Ohio, told Pope Francis.

Boehner’s eyes moistened as the pope told him he, too, was glad to be there, according to an account of the meeting distributed to reporters.

The two men sat down next to each other, accompanied by Vatican and church officials and Boehner aides. With photographers’ cameras whirring, Boehner told the pontiff his staff urged him to wear the green tie. Pope Francis complimented the speaker’s choice, through his interpreter.

“He says it’s a tie with the color of hope,” the interpreter told Boehner.

“I need a lot of hope today,” Boehner responded.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Indeed, the backdrop for this carefully choreographed, uplifting moment could not be more incongruous: Congress mired in partisan muck over funding for Planned Parenthood, which could trigger a chaotic government shutdown.

Boehner appeared to be trying to push that conflict — which also threatens his speakership, as conservatives push him to take a hard line — to the back of his mind Thursday. He wanted no talk of shutdown politics, although he clearly hoped the pope’s remarkable speech would cause lawmakers to take a deep breath and to heed “our higher callings,” as he put in an interview Monday.

“With great blessings, of course, come great responsibility,” Boehner said in his post-pope speech statement.  “Let us all go forth with gratitude and reflect on how we can better serve one another.”

In their meeting, Pope Francis gave Boehner a framed Liberty Bell commemorating the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia this week—the same gift the pope gave to President Obama.

Boehner gave Pope Francis a sterling silver water pitcher with the seal of the speaker on one side. Engraved on the other side was this: “His Holiness Pope Francis, Holy See, September 24, 2015.”

Then, at 9:46 sharp, Boehner arrived in the speaker’s chair and called the House to order. His specially selected guests — including his wife Debbie, his childhood friend Jerry Vanden Eynden, and former Speaker Newt Gingrich — were seated in the House gallery. And 15 minutes later, the House sergeant-at-arms made this announcement: “Mr. Speaker, the pope of the Holy See.”

“History!” Boehner declared in an online essay detailing Thursday’s schedule of events.

As the pope opened his speech, Boehner already had tears in his eyes and a handkerchief at the ready. Boehner knew the pope’s speech could test his political ideology. And Pope Francis did, with forceful pleas for lawmakers to address climate change, to welcome immigrants, to abolish the death penalty—all messages that sparked warm applause from Democrats and cautious claps from Republicans.

A T-shirt decorated with the image of Pope Francis

Pope Francis is greeted by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and Vice President Biden on Capitol Hill on Sept. 24, 2015. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP)

The pope also touched on issues important to conservatives, suggesting traditional marriage was under attack and calling for the protection of “human life at every stage of development.”

Boehner and his aides had warned lawmakers to be on their best behavior — hoping they would not turn the pope’s address into a partisan clapping match. And for the most part, they obeyed — giving him several standing ovations at key moments without dividing into polarized camps over certain catch-phrases.

That came right after, as lawmakers singled out their favorite lines from the pope’s address in flurry of dueling press releases.

“I was struck by his simple defense of the unborn,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who is leading the charge to defund Planned Parenthood and pushing Boehner into a showdown with Obama over the issue. “It has been one of my greatest priorities in office to do just that, and I am glad that the pope specifically focused on this great moral issue as we look ahead to funding the government this fall.”

Sen. Sherrod Brown, a liberal Democrat from Ohio, highlighted the pope’s pitch to care for the poor.

“Pope Francis’ address to Congress today outlined why it’s critical that we embrace all people in our global community – especially the poor and overlooked – with understanding and compassion,” Brown said. “His unifying message should remind us all to serve our neighbors and embrace the ‘golden rule’ present in most of the world’s major religions.”

Boehner steered clear of the political commentary and tried to focus on the spiritual. After the pope concluded his 45-minute address, Boehner and Vice President Biden escorted the pope out of the chamber and onto the speaker’s balcony.

There, the pope greeted a throng of well-wishers gathered on the Capitol’s West Lawn. Biden smiled broadly and looked out at the adoring crowd, but Boehner kept his teary eyes glued to the pope. Appearing overcome with emotion, he seemed to want that moment to last forever.

“I’m so proud that so many came to greet the pope here at our Capitol, the world’s greatest symbol of democracy,” he said afterward.

But political reality returned quickly, once the pope went off to lunch with Washington’s homeless and lawmakers turned their attention back to the divisive spending fight. A few hours after the pope left the Capitol, Boehner called Jordan and other conservatives to a meeting in his office to talk about their demand to defund Planned Parenthood in the government spending bill — a tactic Boehner fears will fail and will hurt the GOP.

Jordan declined to comment on the discussion. But another lawmaker, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., said he thought the speaker would lose 50 Republican votes if he pushes for a "clean" spending bill that does not strip Planned Parenthood of its funding.

Asked if conservatives would push for Boehner's ouster if he doesn't take a hard line on Planned Parenthood, Mulvaney demurred. "All I know is any member — any member — can bring up that motion" to remove Boehner from the speaker's chair, he said.

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1KxzK6Z

0) { %>People walk past portable toilets staged ahead the

0) { %>

0) { %>

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Audience members await the entrance of Pope Francis
Pope Francis kisses Maria Teresa Heyer, a 1st grader
Pope Francis arrives at John F. Kennedy International
Pope Francis greets school children as he departs the
Pope Francis waves to the crowd after speaking at St.
Pope Francis, accompanied by members of Congress, waves
Pope Francis greets crowds on the west front of the
Pope Francis ends his address to a joint session of
Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress.
Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress/
Pope Francis greets well-wishers as he returns to the
Pope Francis arrives for midday prayer at St. Matthew's
Pope Francis waves as he arrives at the Basilica of
People reach out to Pope Francis as he walks through
Pope Francis arrives at a midday prayer with US bishops
Bishops arrive at St. Matthews Cathedral prior to the
The plane of Pope Francis arrives in the United States
Honor guards present flags as Pope Francis deplanes
The President introduces his family to Pope Francis.
A fistful of Vatican flag souvenirs are seen Tuesday,
Pope Francis walks the red carpet with President Obama
A T-shirt decorated with the image of Pope Francis
People walk past portable toilets staged ahead the
Pope Francis speaks during evening prayers at St. Patrick'sCrowds cheer as Pope Francis drives down 5th AvenuePope Francis reaches out to 5th grader Omodele OjoPope Francis boards his plane at Joint Base Andrews,People watch Pope Francis address a joint session ofPope Francis, surrounded by security, waves to well-wishersPope Francis arrives with House and Senate leadershipPope Francis addresses a meeting of Congress.Pope Francis addresses a meeting of Congress.Pope Francis shakes the hand of Vice President BidenPope Francis greets well-wishers at the Apostolic NunciaturePriests follow along during a Mass celebrated by PopePope Francis during the Canonization Mass on the eastPresident Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama andSticker on a shirt of a person waiting to get a glimpseSpectators wave to Pope Francis during a parade onPope Francis takes a photo with children whose parentsPresident Barack Obama and his daughter Sasha ObamaThe flags of the United States and the Vatican wavePope Francis takes in the scene on the arrivals redThe President is all smiles as Pope Francis arrivesPope Francis  starts his first visit to the UnitedSecurity is heightened all along the east coast aheadA mural of Pope Francis greets those in midtown Manhattan

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