WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) — Pope Francis will become the first pontiff to address a joint meeting of Congress when he speaks Thursday morning as part of his six-day U.S. visit.
Francis will address Senators and Representatives at the meeting presided by Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner, who is Catholic.
The historic address by the pope has been cause for controversy, as many politicians and presidential candidates in the Republican party have either condemned or distanced themselves from Francis over some views he holds considered liberal.
Ahead of arriving to the United States, Francis rejected assertions he’s a “leftist” liberal while answering journalists’ questions. The pope said calling him a liberal would be a “mistake of interpretation.”
The pope is against abortion and same-sex marriage, aligning with conservative ideology. On the issues of climate change, immigration and income inequality, Francis aligns with liberal views.
When welcomed to the White House by President Barack Obama on Wednesday, the pope used his speech to speak of climate change.
“Climate change is a problem that can no longer be left for a future generation,” Francis said on-stage in the White House’s south lawn in front of thousands, also praising Obama for “proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution.”
Francis’ views and comments, including his encyclical on climate change released in June, have led some conservatives to denounce the pope.
Republican Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) said he will boycott Francis’ speech in Congress because of the pope’s expected comments on climate change, also accusing the pope of acting like a “leftist politician.”
Francis also commented on the capitalist economic model, as he has done many times previously, at his White House address and in other stops during his Washington, D.C., tour. He believes capitalism has the potential to “overlook” the poor while also damaging the Earth by creating pollution in a highly competitive economy.
Republican presidential candidate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), a Catholic, said the pope is “infallible” on theological matters, but not economic issues.
“In theological matters … I believe when he pronounces himself from the chair of Peter … he is infallible in those decisions, in those issues. That does not extend to political issues like the economy,” Rubio said Tuesday on Fox News.
“On economic issues, the pope is a person,” Rubio added.
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