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Living La Vida Pope-ah

Kids sporting homemade mitres made their way to Capitol Hill to catch Pope Francis’ address to Congress. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)
Kids sporting homemade mitres made their way to Capitol Hill to catch Pope Francis’ address to Congress. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)

They flowed in from all over to see and hear Pope Francis speak his mind to our elected leaders, a flood of modern pilgrims ready to take instruction from the Holy See’s point man.  

Tens of thousands of folks made their way to the Capitol Thursday to witness the pontiff’s appearance before a joint session of Congress, braving congested security checkpoints and prolonged exposure to a glaring sun to bear witness to the rarest of occasions — the ultimate confluence of church and state.

Papal primping reaches new heights in anticipation of Pope Francis’ arrival on Capitol Hill. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)
Papal primping reaches new heights in anticipation of Pope Francis’ arrival on Capitol Hill. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)

Many of those who swarmed the congressional lawn were clad from head to toe in Catholic school gear.  

Catholic school kids confined to the West Front grapple with one another — rather than their faith — while waiting for Pope Francis to arrive on Capitol Hill. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)
Catholic school kids confined to the West Front grapple with one another — rather than their faith — while waiting for Pope Francis to arrive on Capitol Hill. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)

Everywhere HOH looked we saw DeMatha Catholic High School rowing hats, Georgetown University sweaters, Gonzaga College High School soccer jerseys, St. Mary’s College of Maryland hoodies, Academy of the Holy Cross golf shirts, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School sweatshirts and Catholic University of America tees.  

The secular minded were well represented, too.  

What’s more magical than waving to the pope while wearing a Mickey Mouse glove? (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)
What’s more magical than waving to the pope while wearing a Mickey Mouse glove? (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)

Although they were somewhat harder to spot within the wildly diverse crowd.  

Some attendees, such as the immigration reform advocates who caravanned all the way from Minnesota, had a specific agenda in mind.  

Rather than wear his heart on his sleeve, this pro-immigration activist elected to wrap himself in Pope Francis’ own words. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)
Rather than wear his heart on his sleeve, this pro-immigration activist elected to wrap himself in Francis’ own words. (Warren Rojas/CQ Roll Call)

Members of that group said they were hopeful Francis would persuade U.S. lawmakers to abandon proposed impediments to citizenship and embrace a more all-inclusive worldview.  

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