The United States awoke on Wednesday to tens of
thousands streaming into its capital before sun-up to see Pope
Francis, arriving for security checks hours before he is to appear.
Francis' agenda included a visit to the White House, with a meeting
with President Barack Obama and a speech to 15 000 special guests on
the White House lawn at a full state honours ceremony.
The 78-year-old pontiff is then scheduled to ride his popemobile in a
parade around the Ellipse, a park adjoining the White House, so that
those without tickets can catch a glimpse of the Catholic leader.
About 200 000 visitors are expected.
In the afternoon, Francis is due to attend a prayer service with 300
US bishops before leading the canonisation mass for Franciscan friar
Junipero Serra (1713-84), who founded nine missions in California.
Twenty-five thousand people are expected at the
canonisation
ceremony, to take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Immaculate Conception.
Sunny weather was expected throughout the day of outdoor mass
gatherings, and crowds were already making good use of it early on Wednesday.
Thousands passed through three gates onto the Ellipse beginning at 04:00 (08:00 GMT).
At the intersection of 15th and Constitution, they waited up to half
an hour to filter through 12 metal detectors and faced as many as
seven hours more until the popemobile's arrival.
Vendors sold Vatican flags, rosaries, pens and T-shirts with the
pope's image and the slogan, "Love Is Our Mission" as one street
preacher shouted proclamations that "the pope is not holy".
The White House gates opened at 05:00 (09:00 GMT) for the 15 000 guests
holding tickets: nuns, Catholic schoolgirls in uniform and many
others, all dressed in their Sunday best.
"There's an opportunity for the citizens of this country to welcome
him and show how warmly his message has been received in this
country, by both Catholics and non-Catholics alike," White House
spokesperson Josh Earnest said.
After a four-day visit to Cuba, Francis arrived on Tuesday at a military
airport outside the US capital to begin his six-day tour of
Washington, New York and Philadelphia.
Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and their families shook hands with
Francis on the tarmac, along with a delegation of black-robed clergy
from the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.
Francis then climbed into the back seat of a black Fiat 500L with an
Italian license plate - an unusually humble car for a Washington
motorcade - before his 30-minute, high-security drive to the Vatican
embassy, the nunciature, to spend the night.
The White House has underlined Obama's and Francis' agreement on
social issues - such as combatting climate change and inequality -
but Obama's policies on abortion and same-sex marriage clash with
Catholic doctrine.
Francis is the Vatican head of state, but the White House has
stressed that their meeting is not a political event, but rather a chance to emphasise shared values.
Even on issues on which the two leaders disagree, Obama holds "the
pope and his views in high regard", Earnest said.
Obama and Francis first met last year in Rome.
The Cuba-US trip is the pope's third this year, after he visited the
Philippines in January and South America in July.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Pope Francis draws tens of thousands to US capital
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