Pope Francis to visit White House on Sept. 23

[Omaha Steve]

Source: USA Today

Gregory Korte

WASHINGTON — President Obama will host Pope Francis at the White House on Sept. 23, the White House confirmed Thursday.

The historic visit will mark only the third time a pontiff has visited the White House. President Carter met with Pope John Paul II in the Oval Office for an hour in 1979; President Bush hosted Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the two leaders would discuss a broad range of issues, including poverty, the environment, religious freedom and immigration.

Obama and Francis last met a year ago at the Vatican — a visit that secretly laid the diplomatic groundwork for the United States to normalize relations with the largely Catholic nation of Cuba.



(Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP)

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2015/03/26/pope-francis-visit-to-white-house-2015/70481144/

[Bluenorthwest]

1. Indiana shows us what they mean by 'religious freedom'.

He's coming to promote discrimination against LGBT people and the end of reproductive choice.

[freshwest]

2. Ah, I thought he was going to speak to Congress. Wasn't invited, huh. n/t