The Pope Gets Here Today

Today at 4:00 p.m. ET, Pope Francis will arrive in Washington, D.C. The next day he will visit the White House. On Thursday the pope will address a joint session of Congress, the first time that has ever happened. Friday he’ll be in New York, addressing the UN, and Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia.

What do we make of this? Is this political adulation appropriate for a religious leader? Why wouldn’t the head of the Lutheran World Federation or the International Baptist Convention get–or want– this kind of treatment?

On what issues do you think the pontiff will pontificate? (We know he will be pro-immigration, pro-environmentalism, and pro-life. Will he be more help to liberals or conservatives?)

Here is a schedule of the Pope’s activities this week: General Schedule of Pope Francis U.S.Visit 2015.

CNN’s Daniel Burke gives the pope’s main priorities for the visit: The Pope’s Trip to America: 5 Key Questions, CNN.

Briefly, they have to do with (1) the USA’s recognition of Cuba (where the pope has been visiting for the last few days), a diplomatic coup the pope was involved in; (2) his address to Congress where he is expected to urge a generous immigration policy; (3) urge the UN to do more on the environment; (4) unite American Catholics; (5) bring lapsed Catholics back into the fold.