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During a historic address to Congress on Thursday, Pope Francis urged our nation’s leaders to cooperate with one another for the sake of “the common good.”
“Your own responsibility as members of Congress is to enable this country, by your legislative activity, to grow as a nation,” said Francis.
“You are the face of its people, their representatives. You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics.”
“The challenges facing us today call for a renewal of that spirit of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States,” he continued.
“The complexity, the gravity and the urgency of these challenges demand that we pool our resources and talents, and resolve to support one another, with respect for our differences and our convictions of conscience.”
The Catholic pontiff added that U.S. leaders must unite “in the battle to eliminate new global forms of slavery, born of grave injustices,” specifically Islamic extremist groups and oppressive regimes in the Middle East.
During what was the first-ever papal address to a Joint Meeting of Congress, Pope Francis also touched on the topics of religious liberty, abortion, immigration, the death penalty, climate change, and the Syrian refugee crisis.
In an increasingly more polarized political climate, is it possible for Washington to achieve the type of cooperation that Francis is advocating for?
To watch his remarks, check out the video courtesy of Fox News below.