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Pope visits U.S.: ‘I think our country needs this message’

September 21, 2015

Lisa Arth can't wait to hear what Pope Francis has to say this week.

The 54-year-old from Southlake is among hundreds of thousands of Americans who will personally see the pope — even if it's from a distance — during his first trip to the United States since being named the leader of the world's Roman Catholics.

"I think it's a great blessing to be able to be close to him," said Arth, a French professor at Tarrant County College who, along with her husband, Mike, will see the pope in Philadelphia as part of the World Meeting of Families.

"He's the spiritual leader for our Catholic Church," she said. "Being that leader, God graces him with a lot to distribute. Hearing him and being around him will be a wonderful experience."

The Arths and scores of other North Texans will make their way to where Pope Francis will speak in Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia.

During his historic trip, the pontiff has a full schedule that begins with meeting President Barack Obama and becoming the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress.

The Argentina-born pope's visit also includes speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, praying with bishops, leading a service at the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York, visiting a prison, participating in parades and celebrating Mass to close out the meeting on family issues in Philadelphia.

"It's going to be exciting," said U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, a Republican whose district stretches from the edges of Tarrant County to Austin. "It will be a memorable event.

"How many chances do you get to even be close to the pope?"

Important message

Fort Worth Bishop Michael F. Olson will see Francis, who was elected pope in 2013, several times.

He will be among those praying with him at St. Matthew's Cathedral in D.C., celebrating the canonization Mass of Junipero Serra and praying at the consolidated Mass on the last day of the World Meeting of Families.

He doesn't expect to have a chance to talk to the pope, with whom he has spoken once before.

"He has a lot of people to visit with and see and a very important message to give," said Olson, one of Pope Francis' first appointments.

Francis has made a big impression, working to make the church more inclusive, particularly for those who are divorced, gay, poor or sick.

He drew nationwide attention for encouraging priests to forgive women who committed "thesin" of having abortions, for weighing in on climate change and for calling the flood of children crossing the border into the U.S. last year a "humanitarian emergency." He may well ask Congress to move forward with a long-stalled comprehensive immigration bill.

Olson said he has no way of knowing what the pope's message will be, but he believes it will touch on several points: dignity and respect for all people; a duty to help the poor; and pure and simple hope.

Olson said he hopes the visit leads people to be more tolerant and respectful of others, particularly the most vulnerable in society. He also hopes people will start to think of relevant social issues "in the light of God … who cares for us unconditionally."

Most of all, Olson said, he hopes the visit brings a spiritual awakening for people of all faiths.

"I hope they get encouraged and get a chance to stop for a moment and to really think and experience how God does exist in their lives," he said. "There has to be room for conscious contact with God to live our life in a happy way as human beings."

For now, Olson encourages people to pray for Pope Francis as he makes this journey. "Pray that things go God's way and that God blesses him in the way he wants to bless him," Olson said.

The Rev. Stephen Jasso is disappointed that he will miss the pope during his visit but said he believes great things will come from it.

"I think his message is going to be very clear and encouraging," said Jasso, of All Saints Catholic Church in Fort Worth. "I think he's going to give us the opportunity to be closer to each other and have the attitude of mercy and forgiveness.

"I think our country needs this message."

Moving forward?

Congressional offices gave out tickets to let people watch the pope's speech to Congress on Jumbotrons set up on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Williams said his office received an overwhelming response for the limited number of tickets. They were gone quickly; none remain.

Williams said he looks forward to the historic speech to Congress on Thursday and hopes the pope talks about the "importance of life and the unborn."

That's why he invited Joe Pojman, executive director of the Austin-based Texas Alliance for Life, as his guest for the speech.

"I hope he touches on the life issues … literally the future of America," Williams said.

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, said she's interested to see what Francis will discuss.

"The statements the pope has made have been very interesting," she said. "He's a pope for the times. He's addressing issues that are very topical right now."

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey said that if the speech mentions immigration reform, his "deepest hope is that the pope's message does not fall on deaf ears and that my Republican colleagues finally bring comprehensive immigration reform to the floor for a vote."

"It is the only way that we as an elected body and as brothers and sisters of the global community can fulfill his call to action and give the undocumented community concrete hope," said Veasey, D-Fort Worth.

Veasey has invited Lisette Moreno, whose parents brought her to the United States when she was young and overstayed their visas, to join him in the House gallery for the speech.

‘Purity, hope and love'

Sheryl Collmer, 57, of Plano will see the pontiff late this week at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia — a once-every-three-years event billed as the largest Catholic meeting of families.

"I'll be somewhere in the general vicinity of him with a million other people," she said. "I'm quite charmed by Pope Francis. Most Catholics are.

"He's just so personable, and he has such a way with people. I think even in a crowd of a million, that personality will be evident."

She said she was in crowds trying to see Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II.

"Even if you don't get up close, it's very edifying to be in a crowd and see the general affection — very deep — for the person who is pope," said Collmer, whose work at Tobet, an Irving-based religious nonprofit, is often linked with the Diocese of Fort Worth.

"You're surrounded by thousands of people interested in purity, hope and love."

‘Important things will be said'

For Lisa and Mike Arth, the Philadelphia trip won't be the first time they've seen a pope, either.

They were newlyweds when they saw Pope John Paul II in San Antonio. When he walked onstage, it was a powerful experience.

"His presence was amazing," Lisa Arth said.

Now, after being married for 28 years and raising four children, Lisa Arth expects seeing Pope Francis to be a different experience.

"I think each pope or Holy Father is unique," she said. "We have been very, very excited about it, and we are really looking forward to it.

"I know there are a lot of families that would like to be able to attend but for various reasons aren't able to, but that doesn't mean they can't experience it," she said. "I think some very important things will be said when we have that visit."


POPE FRANCIS' U.S. VISIT
Here are highlights from the pope's trip, as detailed by the Vatican on June 30.
Tuesday: He arrives in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday: He meets with President Barack Obama at the White House, participates in a papal parade, prays with bishops at St. Matthew's Cathedral and holds a canonization Mass in Spanish at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Thursday: He addresses a joint meeting of Congress, visits St. Patrick's Catholic Church and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, then heads to New York in time for evening prayer at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Friday: He meets with the U.N. General Assembly, conducts a multifaith service at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, visits Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem, leads a procession through Central Park and celebrates Mass at Madison Square Garden.
Saturday: He heads to Philadelphia, celebrates Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, visits Independence Mall, drops in on the Festival of Families and holds a prayer vigil.
Sept. 27: He holds a papal meeting with bishops at St. Martin's Chapel, visits a correctional facility, celebrates Mass to conclude the World Meeting of Families and heads back to Rome.
Source: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops