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>> ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us. please exit the lawn via the southeast gates.

>> a perfect fall day. first day of fall to greet the pope, arrives at the white house. we're going to show you shortly all of the ceremony that just happened at the south lawn. president obama's comments, pope francis' comments in english. we'd love to hear comments from you as well. day number two of the pope's six-day visit to the united states gets under way. here's how you can join the conversation. you can call us at 202-748-8920. that's the line for democrats. for republicans, 202-748-8921. all others, 202-748-8922. nd on twitter the hashtag is popeindc. a number members of congress at the ceremony today as well. we'll show you some of those tweets if we get a chance here. again, we're hoping to show you briefly the ceremony this morning. part of our coverage throughout

the day of the pope's visit in washington. he will shortly be heading out of the white house but ahead of that the president and the pope will be meeting, probably a 40-minute meeting or so. we may see video from that. we'll show you that as well. then the pope in the pope mobile will take a brief parade or tour around the ellipse, the area just south of the area you're seeing here. the south lawn. the ellipse near the washington monument. so we expect to see that live on c-span as well. later today, the mass held at the shrine of the emack late conception on the campus of catholic university, the basilica. that coming up at 4:00 p.m. eastern. that live as well. let's go to dallas, texas. robby on our democrats line. go ahead. caller: yes, i just wanted to comment this morning that i feel that the pope's visit has been absolutely breathtaking. just fantastic. and i really like his

encouragement about climate control. that's what i wanted to say. host: the pope's comments were in english today. what we understand is the comments tomorrow at the joint meeting will be in spanish. that's tomorrow morning live here on c-span. eugene is in augusta, georgia. welcome. caller: yeah, welcome. well, i want to comment what the pope said about climate change. he said, i'm an independent. i'm for life, and if we talk about we for life we have to protect what the life -- i don't want people to see it as a politick. we have to embrace what the pope said and protect the life that god has given to us. ok. thank you. host: the president, his comments as well, introducing the pope, talked about climate change. the president said, quote, we support your call to all world

leaders to support the community's most vulnerable to climate change and come together to preserve our recious world for future generations. here's specific, missouri, and barbara is on the line. hello. caller: hello. i would like to comment that the pope is a wonderful servant of god and he's made many great changes to the world and continues to do so. especially in discrimination. thank you, the pope. host: madeline is in athens, georgia. democrats' line. caller: good morning. yes, i thought kind of funny dialing a partisan line this morning, it feels a very unifying morning. i don't think i take the pope's remarks as politically motivated. i feel his spirit is just really honest and true and humble. and i love his sense of humor

.nd his ability to touch us catholic or not, republican or not, democrat or white, black, rich, poor, i just find him compelling and amazing. and i just want to thank you for covering this visit for us. host: pope francis is 79 years old. the first non-european pope and the fourth pope to visit the united states. although this is his first visit ever to the united states. again, day number two of the six-day visit here in the united states. just a bit -- you see some of the folks filing out of the south lawn. some estimates is 15,000 the attendance there. we'll show you the ceremony in a bit and the parade around the ellipse just south of the white house.

scottsdale. ruth. caller: it was wonderful to see the welcome of the united states to the head of the vatican. i'm pleased to see or hear that he's for change but the change we need is right from home before we talk about change abroad. there's lots of changes needed in the catholic church, and i hope that he will follow on the lines of christ who was humble to the core and that's what humility has to start from the vatican, not establish a roman empire number two. host: you talked about change. what sort of change would you like to see in the catholic church? caller: if you see the protestant churches, humbly. most of the priests live in little homes provided by the church wherever they're serving. there is no vatican. there's no person saying holy father. for us holy father is only god

almighty and nobody else. to me these are things which have to be cleaned up. we love christ. we love this country. raised on protestant ethics from people who ran away from all the persecution that they saw from the roman church. and that is where we have succeeded and no other country in the world under the catholics have succeeded the way we can. why? does anybody question why, starting from the philippines, starting from latin america, starting from portugal and italy and all compared to the protestant countries that are doing so well, why is it? because we give god the father. he's the only father that we have. and we should be worshiping him like the jews do and like the protestants do. that is my question. so we have to start doing that and we have to start living in humility, not living with on lens and all that.

if you go to the vatican -- i have been there. and to me that's on lance. that's not modesty. that's not what the church stands for. that's not what christ came here for. christ lived like a humble being. he was a jew, and he lived with such humility and he told his apostles to live that way and take the gospel and they were martyred for that and that's where the humility comes from. host: ruth, we appreciate your input. the crowd filing out of the south lawn. the president and the pope meeting at the white house. the pope will then get in the pope mobile, the world famous pope mobile for a brief parade around the ellipse area. we expect to have live coverage for that here on c-span. live coverage later today of the canadaization mass. and he will be talking with business ops at st. matthew's cathedral which is just north of the white house. that will be midday today. look for live coverage for that, too, over on c-span.org.

beloit, wisconsin. it's james. hello. caller: yes. i would ask your viewers to go google pope, argentina generals and what you'll find is an article in the guardian and also on bbc about the situation that the pope was head of the jesuit order in argentina during the worse mass murder in the western hemisphere in history. and -- but the thing is, the vatican still has files on 30,000 people that were murdered, and the pope is apparently delaying. he's promised to release these files to the relatives, bereved relatives but he's delayed it for another year. i would hope that people who are enjoying his visit could maybe get some pressure going to make sure those survivors of the mass murder that the vatican release their files so they have peace of mind before they die. host: is this something that the pope is doing intentionally not releasing, according to

this article, what you're saying, do you think he's doing it intentionally? caller: i'm not saying intentionally but bureaucratic issues. they say it could take a year to digit ties the files that will be given to these bereved relatives. it could be interpreted as a year. the people are in their 80's, like the pope, almost. host: you say the article was n "the guardian," correct? caller: that's right. host: next, san angelo, texas. caller: i was watching the ceremony and it made me proud to be an american. i'm a catholic and i was following the pope's visit in cuba just recently. i was -- i saw the ceremony and it was beautiful. i think the united states has something very proud to be -- very proud of because it was

just breathtaking to see the entire ceremony. i enjoyed both the president and the pope's message. but it just made me feel glad to be an american and i haven't felt like that in a long time with all the different things going on in the united states recently. it was just real breathtaking to see and i'm very thankful. thank you. host: and one more here. jennifer in rockfield, maryland. good morning. caller: good morning. jennifer ray right here in rockfield, maryland. i'm a republican and we are just so happy that the pope is here. i was just brought to tears as his plane landed at andrews yesterday, and his visit is very timely because this country is going in too many different directions and we need such a wonderful reader such as the pope here on our

soil. e love you pope francesco. host: more live coverage throughout the day and into the weekend here on c-span. in just a bit the pope's parade, the short parade around the ellipse in the nation's capital just south of the white house. we wanted to show you this morning's welcoming ceremony. a look down the colon aid, and i think that -- colonade, and i think that may be a live look -- that is a live look as the president and the pope are meeting. so we'll stay with this just a bit and show you the welcoming ceremony momentarily. president obama: good morning.

what a beautiful day the lord has made. holy father, on behalf of michelle and myself, welcome to the white house. [applause] i should explain our back yard is not typically this crowded. but the size and the spirit of today's gathering is just a small reflection of the deep devotion of some 70 million american catholics. [applause] it reflects as well the way that your message of love and hope has inspired so many

people across our nation and around the world. so on behalf of the american people, it is my great honor and privilege to welcome you to the united states of america. [applause] today we mark many firsts. your holiness, you've been celebrated as the first pope from the americas. [applause] this is your first visit to the united states. [applause] and you are also the first pontiff to share an encyclical through a twitter account. holy father, your visit not only allows us in some small way to reciprocate the

extraordinary hospitality at the vatican last year, it also reveals how much all americans from every background and every faith value the role that catholic church plays in strengthening america. from my time working in impoverished neighborhoods with the catholic church in chicago to my travels as president, i have seen firsthand how every single day catholic communities feeding nuns, are the hungry, healing the sick, sheltering the homeless, educating our children and for theifying the faith that sustains so many.

and what is true in america is true around the world, from the busy streets of buenos aries to the remote villages in kenya, catholic organizations serve the poor, minister the prisoners, build schools, build homes, operate orphanages and hospitals. and just as the church stood with those struggling to break the chains of poverty, the church so often has given voice and hope to those seeking to break the chains of violence and oppression. and yet i believe the excitement around your visit, holy father, must be attributed not only to your role as pope but to your unique qualities as a person. [applause]

in your humility, your embrace of simplicity and the gentleness of your words, and the generosity of your spirit, we see a living example of geez ss' -- jesus' teachings, moral authority that comes not just through words but also through deeds. [applause] you call on all of us, catholic and non-catholic alike, to put the least of these at the center of our concerns. you remind us that in the eyes of god our measure as individuals and our measure as a society is not determined by wealth or power or station or

lebrity but by how well we look at scripture to lift up the poor and the marginalized. to stand up for justice and against inequality and to ensure that every human being is able to live in dignity because we are all made in the image of god. [applause] you remind us that the lord's most powerful message is mercy. that means welcoming the stranger with empathy and a ruly open heart. from the refugee who flees wore-torn lands to the immigrant who leaves home in search of a better life. [applause]

it means showing compassion and love for the marginalized and the outcast to those who suffered and those who've caused suffering and seek redemption. you remind us of the cost of war, particularly on the powerless and defenseless and urge us toward the imperative f peace. [applause] holy father, we are grateful for your invaluable support of our new beginning with the cuban people which holds out the promise -- which holds out the promise of better relations between our countries, greater cooperation across our hemisphere and a better life for the cuban people. we thank you for your

passionate voice against the deadly conflicts that ravaged the lives of so many men, women and children and your call for nations to resist the sirens of war and resolve disputes through diplomacy. you remind us that -- host: we'll be back to the president's speech momentarily. live look at the president and -- ope walk to the olve oval office for their meeting.

host: president obama accompanying pope francis down colonade. now back to this morning's speeches by the president and pope francis. president obama: you call on us to rejoice in good news and give us confidence that we can come together in humility and

service and pursue a world that is more loving, more just and more free. here at home and around the world, may our generation heed your call to never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope. for that great gift of hope, holy father, we thank you and welcome you with joy and gratitude to the united states of america. [applause]

ope francis: good morning. mr. president, i am deeply .rateful for you're welcome as the son of an immigrant to be a guest py in this country which was lastly built by such families. [applause] of ok forward to these days encounter in which i hope to

listen to and share many of the hopes and dreams of the american people. during my visit, i will have the honor of addressing congress where i hope as a brother of this country to offer words of encouragement to nation's uide the political future from its full counting principles. to the -- to avel celebrate and support the institutions of marriage and family, this a critical moment in the history of our

civilization. [applause] , president, together american catholics are committed to building a society hich is truly tolerant and inclusive to safeguarding the rights of individuals and communities and to rejecting every form of injustice, iscrimination. countless other people of goodwill, they are likewise concerned of the efforts to

uild a just society, respect their deepest concerns and the ight to religious liberty. let freedom remind america's ost precious possessions and as my brothers, the united -- s have reminded us all to be vigilant, precisely as and defend that -- dom from everything that

mr. speaker, i find it encouraging that you are proposing and initiative for educing air pollution. it seems clear to me also that is a problem we can no longer be left to future generations. when it comes to the care, we are living at a critical moment of history. we still have time to make the ange needed to bring about a

sustainable and integral development for we know that things can change. such change demands on our part serious and response, not only of the kind of world we may be leaving for our children, but also to the illions of people living under a system which has overlooked hem. ur common home has been part of this group which cries out

to heaven and which today, powerfully strikes our homes, our cities, our societies. italian phrase of the reverend martin luther king, we an say that we have defaulted on our promise and now is the time to honor it. [applause] pope francis: we know by faith that the creator does not bandon us. he has never forsaken us, he lovingly created us.

umanity has the ability to all -- altogether in building our common home. as christians, inspired, we ish to commit ourselves to the conscious and responsible care f our common home. , the efforts, which were recently made to mend broken relationships and to open new doors to cooperation within our human family, represents positive steps along the path of reconciliation, justice and freedom.

i would like all men and women of good will in this great nation to support the efforts of the international community to protect the vulnerable in our stimulate integral and inclusive models of development. so -- [applause] pope francis: so that our brothers and sisters everywhere may know the blessings of peace and prosperity, which god wills for all of his children. mr. president, once again, i hank you for your welcome.

and i look forward to the days in your country. god bless america. [applause] host: pope francis and president obama from within the hour. the welcoming ceremony at the white house. the president and the pope at office. in the oval so about 20, 25 minutes or so. and then the pope will get in the pope mobile and take a brief parade, a brief tour around parts of the just the perimeter of the white house ground. we look at a map of

washingtonpost.com. if you're familiar with the national christmas tree which usually goes right here on the ellipse, that's where the pope's parade, his chance to see a number of people who have come to washington to see the pope and that will be coming up a little bit after 11:00. we'll have that live for you. also live later today, the mass of canonization for the founder of the california mission. that's coming up this afternoon at 4:00 eastern. we'll have that live as well. and your call is welcome. 202-748-8920 is the democrats' line. republicans, it's 202-748-8921. and all others, 202-748-8922. and we'll look for your tweets n twitter at the hashtag popeindc. woodbridge, virginia. gloria. democrats' line. lost gloria. let's go to salem,

massachusetts. hi. go ahead. the message is good for politics. there's a lot of misunderstanding between the democrats and the republicans, and i think that they need to make peace and think about the united states first before they a e any decision or not make decision on any type of issue. host: corey -- cary, north carolina, next. caller: hello. so happy what's going on here in the world and i know it's going to be a change in the whole world, not just where i live in north carolina, but the whole world and this is something that makes me so happy to see the pope here. it's wonderful.

so bye. host: the pope, of course, speaking briefly on the courthouse grounds. the joint meeting of congress, the first pope to do so, that will be tomorrow morning at the u.s. capitol, obviously. we'll have live coverage for you. the speech expected to start around 10:00 tomorrow morning. our live coverage getting under way well in advance of that. to natchez, mississippi, on our independence line. hello there. caller: hey, hello, how you doing? host: you're on the air. caller: i'm disappointed that this country does not know about civics and does not care to make amends for the countless killing of the ash ridge national people that is classified black, nigger, negros in original america. if you research the tripoli tree, article 11 state as the

government of the united states of america is not any sense founded on christianity. so this country needs a civics class in section 4 of article 4, section 4 of the constitution states a republic form of government. not a democracy, not a democrat. so the pope is in town and in the name of christianity over 500 million moores classified as africans have been murdered in the name of christianity. i have nothing against christianity. i am against the people that created this. so every group of people that have been compensated for slavery or genocide, so i'm kind of curious to see when this country that's standing on y ancestry state as me being a

moor, me being an american, american national, we know we're going to have this conversation because in 1913, the divine national movement. not no blacks lives matter more movement. we are the dejour republican form of party and the heris to this vast state. host: and do you expect to hear anything from pope francis about some of the issues you're bringing up? caller: i expect that because he is the leader of the united states of america democracy corporation kp since 1933 and he sent out the motopopia stating the same thing that i am saying that they are frauds and he's their boss. host: let's get another view

from joseph in maryland. ller: -- host: let's go to new jersey. clifton, new jersey. liam is on the republican line. caller: i think i want to make something clear that happened -- that you have seen in this speech and that is something that no one is pointing out at all, that is the pope is saying that there is climate change in the u.s. -- worldwide, pollution going on which is a lie made by the jews and that is plaguing america. plaguing our society, ok. he's putting fear into americans worldwide -- nationwide because he's one of those damn zionist jews and they're trying to ruin our country and ruin our world. host: sir, we're asking for

your opinion of the pope. we asked you not to cast gait any person because of their faith or their race or whatever. we're asking for your comments about the pope's visit. we appreciate your obliging us in that issue and keeping the conversation civil. let's go to matt -- excuse me, pat in hackensack, minnesota, here on our democrats' line. caller: yes, i think this trip for the pope has been terrific, and i think he's going to really make some good changes that have been necessary for years. think, too, the color and your political views shouldn't be brought into any of this. and i think his english is terrific. no longer that he's been here,

and i know he's been studying it, but we have a priest here that has been here for five years and he can't speak that ell. it was a very good speech, and i think it's very interesting nd especially he cares for the -- le that have host: we see video from this morning's ceremony. we'll see the pope in his pope mobile in the parade shortly. comments from the callers about the pope's speech. here is reaction. pope francis speaking in english at the white house, --

host: louisiana, independence line. caller: yes. you know, i've been hearing this nation is confused, especially the right has politician ed the division to take over. the problem isn't with socialism versus capitalism. we had a happy mix for about four years and controlled capitalism, there's nothing wrong with it. but when capitalists, wealthy capitalists become greedy and

take all the rules away, it doesn't work any more for anyone except them. and we need to come to a consensus in this country altogether. yes, capitalism is good to a point, on controlled capitalism leads to what we have now worldwide. host: where does the pope fall in that spectrum, do you think? caller: i think what the pope, he's not a socialist. i think he wants to go back to our normal capitalistic system where there was a happy balance and there wasn't all the poverty in the world and the wealth didn't go all to the top. host: some background on pope francis. he was born in 1936, december 7 in buenos aries argentina. george mario bergoglio. rdained as a priest in 1969. consecrated as bishop in 1992.

made archbishop in 1997. elected pope in 2013. carol is in galveston, texas. hello. you're on the air. go ahead. caller: i just wanted to say i'm so proud to see the pope with a positive message for all of us and i really like to comment that he said that we are all god's children and that we should be feeding the poor and doing the most positive things even with our climate. so i'm happy to see the pope there with the president. host: linda is next in virginia on our independence' line. good morning. caller: yes. i felt it was a very heartwarming speech by president obama and the pope francis and think it gives us all hope as a nation to make this a better world if we can all just work together. it certainly is a step in the

right direction and i agree with the lady before me that it does give us, you know, a positive attitude in the world if we can just all come together. i thought it was really great. host: taking your calls and your reaction to pope francis' visit in washington. welcome to the white house this morning and shortly in about 10 or 15 minutes or so we expect him to come out of the white house in the pope mobile in a brief parade around the perimeter of the white house and i have that live for you here on c-span. and the president and the pope meeting at this hour in the oval. on washingtonpost.com what the president and the pope will discuss. and ken sat down for a brief interview saying they got 45 to 50 minutes together. the first thing the president is going to say, holy father, how was cuba? that will be about 10 to 15 minutes of discussion. you got to believe that. and the president will say, i haven't got much time. i would like to see more on

migration. i would like to make sure the minimum wage is adequate for people across the country. i don't think they're going to get into criminal justice. it's too complicated. they might talk about russia. again, that brief interview with the apple dass dore to the vatican. here's sandy who is in east michigan on our democrats' line. go ahead. caller: hi, good morning. host: hi, sandy. caller: i think with the pope's visit, god is actually saying to us, hello, i'm here, i'm watching and listening. we need to listen to what the pope is saying. when he leaves, we need to do hat he's telling us to do. god -- and god is always watching us and for the first time in a long time i think those of us who are christians or muslims or whatever they are are actually hearing from god through the pope and i personally think it feels wonderful and i thank god.

thank you so much for listening. bye-bye. host: to tacoma, washington. debbie on our republicans' line. caller: what i'm concerned about, god has asked us all to share his message and i know the catholics do look to the pope as a message from god. the thing that's really important that i think he needs to share is the two most important commandments that god has called us all is love him first with all our soul and mind and second is to love one another. the thing i'm concerned about is the issue are not regarding of what god is teaching and so i think we need to really check and read our scriptures and maybe even read matthew 24 because god wants us to love one another but he also wants to obey his words and there are a lot of teachings that the pope is not talking about and the things that he's regarding

about our climate changing, god is in control of that and everything that god has created he will take care of that. and so i just pray that the people will real real -- really realize that each one of us is the ambassador for the lord and we should speak the truth and not mislead people. host: pope francis becomes the fourth pope to visit the united states. he's the third to meet the president in the u.s. the 10th time a pope has visited the u.s. in any capacity. pope paul 6:00 was the first in 1965 -- pope paul vi was the first in 1965. and pope benedict the most recent meeting with president bush in 2008. wanted to show you, too -- we're waiting to see the pope come out from the white house to see the parade around the perimeter of the white house. the ellipse area. one of a number of stops he will make on this his second of three days in the nation's capital. later he will be up the street,

up connecticut avenue at st. matthews cathedral to meet with a number of bishops and this afternoon, of course, on the campus of catholic university at the basilica of the national shrine of the immaculate conception. democrats' line. go ahead. caller: yes, sir, good morning. i'd just like to say i am honored to be able to watch the pope in america. i think he said some very interesting things. i can't take away from anything he said. i'm glad that the white house invited him and that the president showed him so much graciousness. he and his wife and the military. and i'm just glad that he was here and no matter what the other callers say, i just believe that if we all live for god -- he talked about world

peace. i believe in world peace. talk about international, people coming in the country and we are to welcome them. we are here, and we are a great country and we should live like we are a great country. we should turn away no one. host: are you yourself a catholic? caller: no. i'm a southern baptist born and fed. and bred. so, no, i'm knot a catholic. i'm not speaking on behalf -- i do listen to his sermons and i have followed the catholic dialogue. christ. lieve in jesus i believe people should live to love each other. host: let's hear from charlotte, north carolina. it's tim on our republican line. caller: yes, thank you for having me. and just to piggyback on what you were asking her as far as the question, it's just amazing to see the outpouring of love from christians to the catholic

faith and on the heels of the muslim controversy that we're having, it's just amazing that we just sort of pick and choose which religion we as christians and republicans choose to embrace. and i would just like to say it's nice to see him here and that, you know, we should pretty much be open to all religions and be able to get along with each other and that's pretty much the basics of it. it's a great thing to see him here. host: you see some of the video from a short while ago of the pope speaking on the south lawn, his first comments, speaking in english, by the way, to a crowd of some 15,000 or so. mark knoller covers the white house and has for years for cbs. tweets raising the issue of the environment, the pope says climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation. "wall street journal" says, with the pope in d.c., will politicses embrace his call for

accept -- politicians embrace his call for acceptance? that's from "the wall street journal." speaking to a joint session of congress tomorrow. paula on the independence, the others line. caller: hi, i'm calling and i want to thank you for covering this. this is not something i expected to see. i guess i want to make these comments on what he's been talking about. i really feel that the pope consistently do something where they open the door, like going to cuba. i feel like he's opened the door for progress and it's something we need to see. regarding this issue of the environment, what that former woman had spoken about, i believe what he's trying to do is point out a need that affects us universally. the pope says he calls the people to action on issues that he feels are relevant in this time in the church. i think what he's doing. and he's bringing the issues of family to the forefront. there are so many issues

regarding families and it's always the negative. there's no solution. i'm hoping we're going to see in his visit regarding all of the issues related to family that he's going to bring that to the forefront and he's going to bring the positive issues. there's always going to be division. i think he's going to lead us in a way that's going to show us there is a way for it to be positive. there is a good way. we all come from families and we know that's the way our country is going to develop is how our families are. i happen to be a catholic. i'm definitely independent. i heard his comment about we needed to state the creed. that's the thing about our catholic faith. the catholic faith can only be real if you are independent. you have to be free in order to appreciate it. i'm hoping that some of those truths will come forward and all those treafl issues controversial issues, if he can press and people can hear, this

is our approach, this is where we're coming from our understanding of scripture. if we can all be tolerant. like the minister of the white house who happens to be gay, i thought he did a wonderful job of expressing the fact that we have these beliefs but we can still agree on so many other issues. i guess that's all i want to say. . hernandez-fernandez the issue of cuba came in the president's quoming comments. you remind us on the powers of war and urge us toward an imperative of peace. holy father we are grateful for your invaluable support of our new beginning with the cuban people. that's what the president had to say. some of what he had to say. norfolk, arkansas. mike on our democrats line. chair umpire: how you doing this morning? hernandez-fernandez fine. chair umpire: beautiful day, isn't it? hernandez-fernandez sure is. what are your comments? chair umpire: i'm sure glad the pope has made it to the country safe and hope he stays safe

while he's here. as far as travels. we have ly believe lost our heart and our souls, a lot of us. and it just -- the people need to wake up in this world. it's getting too crazy. get along like the last several- -- several have said. with his message, i'm not a it's c, raised baptist, hard -- it's enjoyable motivation if the people let it happen to theirselves. open their heart to the world. of course your politicians and all the joke pretty much now. just sad the way it's gone. sad more people can't listen to the pope and take it by heart and soul.

i just hope we can get it together and make it work in this world. hernandez-fernandez mike, this is the second of six days of the papal visit to the united states. he's in washington through thursday. and then to new york on friday to speak at the united nations. also to philadelphia this weekend. our coverage today includes a number of events, a map showing you some perspective of where the pope will be. he's at the white house meeting at this hour with president obama. we'll take a brief tour, parade around the white house perimeter. the ellipse area. then up to the cathedral of saint matthew, just up the street from the white house, within a mile or so. later this afternoon in northeast washington, that's the campus of catholic university and the shrine of the immaculate conception and the cannonization mass at 4:00 p.m. eastern. we'll take your calls until we see the pope and the expected parade. eagle, idaho. charles, good morning. chair umpire: good morning. how are you?

hernandez-fernandez fine, thanks. chair umpire: what a great opportunity and wonderful time for history for our young people to see this. it's an amazing time. i think it's about time we see more of this positive direction in our country. you have too much of the media that is basically focusing on negative for their ratings and what not with politicians saying whatever for a shock, i call it political shock. you get a man like this who can stand up and speak to us with heart and pride, which that's what america is. we are heart and pride. that's what we do in this world. and it's just a good feeling. it's a good comfort feeling where we can see our american flag behind one of the top leaders of religion and of course our president right there. and showing this outpour of caring. and that's basically what i wanted to call and say.

there's one note i want to make. the woman who talks about christians and science, we don't believe science. she's talking about climate change. we do believe that god has a direction for man's mind. that is to be involved in science. and that we do recognize climate change. just a small minority of religions people -- religious people think it's a hoax because it leans to one party or another. for the majority of us, we know that just like in medical science we learn to take care of ourselves and a lot of us christians believe that that's from god. and god gave doctors the abilities to heal us. and this is how we also have to look at this climate change issue. host: we go to payne, ohio, next. owen on the republican line. caller: hi. i'm 15 years old and it's pretty remarkable that so much history

is already being made in my lifetime. i just hope that the pope's visit here will unite congress to get things done. hopefully it will inspire my -- his message of humility and message of unifying the country so that way my generation, when we get the opportunity to make america great again, we did can. host: we'll share the comments of president obama here in a moment and live coverage shortly of the pope and his tour, his parade around the white house area. amy's in elgin, illinois, independence line. caller: hi, i just want to say that this is one of the biggest events in the history of the world. i mean, yeah, probably one of the biggest right now for sure. the beginning of big changes in

the world in america. and i just want to tell people out there just to be -- don't be blind sheeps. do your own research and find out what's really going on biguse i believe it's all a mockery. that's my opinion. host: to ramon, naples, florida, good morning. on our democrats line. caller: good morning. viva christ our king. i am catholic. i am proud to be an american. i just want to say that the pope -- everybody, we are children of god. what is beautiful about this country, you have this line they have democrats, republican, independents. even though we are not chill plil, we can exercise our choices. be in the street and say we love the country. it host: let you go there.

you're breaking up a little bit. sorry. to kentucky on the republican line, rodney. aller: good morning. host: good morning. caller: i would like to say jesus christ our king, this is not about the pope being here. even though i honor him being here. this is about the love that we are supposed to show as christians. this is about love towards immigration, towards also the homosexuals and muslims. we are supposed to show love. we are supposed to show honor. and being god's children. and that's pretty much all i got to say. host: one more here from peggy. san angelo, texas, go ahead. caller: hifment -- hi. it's great to hear all this unifying love that the pope is bringing forth, and he's an amazing man. i just hope that the republican congress doesn't shame us as a nation by most of them not

showing up because they don't agree with some of his views. they are going to make it about political. but he has an amazing ability to unify wherever he goes. so hopefully that won't happen. but there's already rumors of them not showing up. maybe some of them will have colds. i hope that doesn't happen. because he's such -- all the calls. talk about unifying and love. so hopefully they can rise above themselves and show up and show some respect. thank you. host: as far as we know the only member who has announced he won't be there is congressman paul gosar of arizona, republican. he said he's not attending the joint meeting tomorrow because of his disagreement with the pope over the issue of climate change. other than that nobody else has said that they are not attending. expecting a pretty full house

for that joint meeting tomorrow, 10:00 eastern, we'll have live coverage. also live here shortly on c-span, we expect to see the pope in the pope mobile and the parade around the ellipse, the perimeter of the white house as our coverage continues. we'll show you that live when it starts. in the meantime the comments this morning from president obama on the south lawn. president obama: what a beautiful day the lord has ade. holy father, on behalf of michelle, myself, welcome to the white house. because because -- [applause] i should explain that our backyard is not typically this crowded.

but the size and the spirit of today's gathering is a small reflection of the deep devotion of some 70 million american catholics. [applause] it reflects as well, the way your message of love and hope has inspired so many people across our nation and around the world. so on behalf of the american people, it is my great honor and privilege to welcome you to the united states of america. [applause]

today, we mark many firsts. your holiness, you have been celebrated as the first hope from the americas. [applause] this is your first visit to the united states. [applause] and you are also the first pontiff to share a twitter account. -- pontiff to share an encyclical through a twitter account. [applause] holy father, your visit not only allows us in some small way to reciprocate the extraordinary hospitality that you extended to me at the vatican last year, it also reveals how much all americans from every background and every faith, value the role that the catholic church plays n strengthening america. [applause] from my time working in mpoverished neighborhoods in

chicago, to my travels as president, i have seen firsthand how every single day, catholic communities, priests, nuns, they are feeding the hungry, healing the sick, sheltering the homeless, educating our hildren, fortifying the face -- forrest filing the faith that sustains so many. and what is true in america is true around the world. from the busy streets of benosar reese to remote villages in kenya, catholic organizations serve the poor, minister to prisoners, build schools, build homes, operate orphannages and hospitals, and just as the church has stood with those

struggling to break the chains of poverty the church so often has given voice and hope to those seeking to break the chains of violence and ppression. i believe the excitement around your visit, holy father, must be afrib beautied not only to your role as pope but to your unique qualities as a person. [applause] in your humility, your embrace of simplicity, and the gentleness of your words and the generosity of your spirit, we see a living example of jesus' teachings, a leader whose moral authority comes not just through ords but also through deeds.

[applause] you call on all of us, catholic and non-catholic alike, to put the least of these at the center of our concerns. you remind us that in the eyes of god, our measure as individuals and our measure as a society is not determined by ealth or power or station or elebrity, but by how well we hugh to scripture's call to lift up the poor and to marginalize. [applause] to stand up for justice, against inequality, to ensure that every human being is able to live in dignity, because we are all made in the image of god.

[applause] you remind us that the lorled's most powerful message -- lord's most powerful message is mercy. and that means well committing a stranger with empathy and an open heart. [applause] from the refugees who flee war-torn lands to the immigrant who leaves home in search of a better life. [applause] it means showing compassion and love for the marginalized and the outcast, to those who suffered and those who have caused suffering and seek re democrats. -- redemption. you remind us of the cost of war. particularly, on the powerless,

and defenseless and urge us toward the imperative of peace. [applause] holy father, we are grateful for your invaluable support of our new beginning withhe cuban people, which hold out the promise -- [applause] which holds out the promise of better relations between our countries, and greater cooperation among our hemisphere and a better life for the cuban people. we thank you for your passionate voice against the deadly conflicts that ravage the lives of so many men, women, and children, and your call for nations to resist the sirens of war and resolve disputes through diplomacy. you remind us that people are only free when they can practice their faith freely. [applause]

here in the united states, we cherish religious liberty. it was the basis of so much of what brought us together. in the united states, we cherish our religious liberty but around he world, at this very moment, children of god including christians are targeted and even killed because of their faith. believers are prevented from gathering at their places of worship, and the faithful are imprisoned, churches are destroyed. so we stand with you in defense of religious freedom, knowing that people everywhere must be able to live out their faith free from fear and intimidation. [applause]

and holy father, you remind us that we have a sacred obligation to protect our planet. god's magnificent gift to us. [applause] we support your call to all world leaders to support the communities most vulnerable to changing climates. to come together to preserve our precious world for future generations. [applause] your holiness, your words and deeds set a profound moral example. in these gentle but firm reminders of our obligations to god and one another, you are shaking us out of our complacency.

all of us may experience discomfort when we contemplate the distance between how we lead our daily lives and what we know to be true. what we know to be right. i believe such discomfort is a blessing, it points to something better. you shake our conscience from slumber. you call on us to rejoice in the good news, in the confidence that we can come together in humility and service to pursue a world that is more loving, just and more free. ere at home and around the world, may our generation heed your call to never remain on the sidelines of this march of living hope. that's great gift of hope, we thank you and we welcome you with joy and gratitude to the nited states of america. [applause]

host: president obama from this morning. as you're seeing in the video the pope is out in the pope mobile around the perimeter of the white house coming out of the southwest gate and taking his parade. live coverage here on c-span. [cheers and applause]

[cheers]

host: we lost our video there. have been showing you the pope and his parade around the white house area. the ellipse area. hope to get that video back and show all of that to you. there we go. we'll stay here live on c-span.

[cheers]

[cheers] host: it is live video. we have camera people walking along with the pope. so it's going in and out here on c-span. live coverage from the parade. he's just -- pope coming down now constitution avenue and turn on to 15th street. looks like we got our signal back.

which is good.

[cheers]

host: pope francis making a loop around 17th street on to constitution avenue. you saw the washington monument there, back into the east gate of the white house. he'll be departing the white house shortly. a full day of activities planned for the nation's capital. tomorrow as well. our live coverage continuing here on c-span. keeping our phone lines opened to hear from you. 202-748-8920.

202-748-8921 for republicans. for independents and all others, 202-748-89 it 2. the pope's schedule for the rest of today. he'll leave the white house shortly and he has a meeting with hundreds of bishops. they are gathering at st. matthews cathedral just up from the white house. the president -- pope will address the bishops, we hear, in spanish, and also be a prayer ceremony there at st. man enthusiast. later in the day at 3:00 p.m. -- 4:00 p.m. the mass for father junipero serra, up at the national shrine of the immaculate conception on the campus of catholic university. we'll have that live for you at 4:00 p.m. eastern. in just a bit we'll show you-all of this morning's arrival and welcoming of the pope at the white house. we'll get back to your calls. a couple of quick tweets on what you just saw. this one saying while the secret service is probably having multiple heart attacks, it's

adorable to see pope francis bless all the babies. this one from luke russert of nbc, nuns tailgating at tat lick u ahead of the pope francis mass. let's go to galesburg, illinois. henry on our democrats' line. good morning. caller: good morning. i'd just like to say i hear a few people complaining about separating church and state, but there is a common denominator and it is science. i'm not a bible reader but i recall reading the next destruction will be caused by man and be by fire. a fact of the science of meteorology an unprecedented gradual increase in the earth's temperature. consider how religious our representatives claim to be because there is a relationship with accurate science and religion. also like to state that it will be a scientific advantage to

america to cease the discriminatory policing of the so-called black american. thank you. i hang up and listen to responses. host: jenny next in lancaster, ohio. republican line. hi, there. caller: i think it's really wonderful that he came here. i want to share a little story with you. my grandmother had some friends and they went over to see the pope in rome in 1929, and they had him kiss the rosary and gave it to her. and i still have it. host: what did you say a rosary? caller: a rosary. i don't know who the pope was in 1929. he they brought it back and gave it to my grandmother. and i have it now. i kind of wonder about that planned parenthood coming up now. now we got this going on. i don't believe in abortions.

it's awful. shouldn't kill a person. host: that issue will come before the senate tomorrow. the issue of popes and u.s. history, pope francis becomes the fourth pope to visit the united states. this is his first visit, period, to the united states. next up is park forest, illinois, kevin. good morning. caller: hi, good morning. my name is calvin from park forest, illinois. i'm so happy to see the pope here in america. i am a catholic. i am devout in my church. i'm an alt' -- altar service and fourth degree in the nights of columbus. i hope it brings our parties together on issues and they all quit their bickering. thank you. god bless. god bless the pope. host: tulsa, oklahoma, on our democrats line. an dryas. -- an deas.

-- andreas. hi,er' on the air. -- hi, you're on the air. we'll go to -- we have a call in heida? in tulsa, this is hi, caller: my name is ida, i'm 12 ands old and i attend tulsa my comment is that i hope the hope convinces the president to continue with improving relations with cuba. host: ok. the president did mention cuba in his opening comments. we'll show you-all of that. show you some of the departure this morning from the pope -- papal embassy in the nation's capital. victor is next up, independence line. where are you calling from? caller: i'm oklahoma. host: having trouble hearing you. sorry about that. couple of tweets here about the

coverage about the speech tomorrow, the joint meeting, 4:00 eastern. here's frank thorpe of nbc. we are talking about members who will be there. frank thorpe tweets that mark sanford says ben carson will be his guest in the house chamber for the pope's address to congress on thursday. from bernie sanders tweeting about the pope. the pope is saying that money, the accumulation of money and the worship of money is not what life should be about. from senator dean heller, what a morning this has been. the pope greeting us from the white house balcony. there's the president, first lady, and the pope at the balcony above the south lawn. live coverage later this afternoon from the catholic university from the shrine of the immaculate conception. we also expect to be seeing video from st. matthew shortly and all of that from st. matthew's on c-span.org. departure ou the

ceremony this morning from the papal embassy, and the arrival at the white house of the pope. [cheers]

host: interesting, on the life side of the screen is the pope this morning meeting people outside the vatican embassy. right side of your screen live video from the steps of st. matthew's can toledo ral on rhode island island. he'll address hundreds of bishops there and praying with them as well. we understand that will be in spanish. this is st. matthew's can toledo ral. the site where in 1963 john f. ken dri's funeral was held in the nation's capital. in november of 1963.

host: the right side of your screen you see the motorcade arriving. the pope is arriving st. matthew's can toledo ral to meet with bishops. we'll have that live for you online at c-span.org. as we watch on the left side of the screen from this morning the

pope departing for the white house and coming up shortly here we'll show you his arrival at the white house and today's speeches.

host: pope francis being escorted into st. man thue's can toledo ral in washington just blocks from the white house. escorted by washington archbishop cardinal wueh the rle. he'll pray with the bishops, speak with them. follow that live at c-span.org. some reaction on twitter from viewers and listeners about today's visit. the visit of pope francis to washington. here's gina who tweets that i'm not religious but the pope inspires. i can believe people practically demonizing the man -- i can't believe people demonizing the man. he's moved the church forward. extraordinary love for the pope in d.c. makes me have faith in the future of humanity. he's a liffle example about humility. about the gifts exchanged between the president and pope, jennifer who covers the white house for hufferington post said the president gave the pope gifts. a sculpture of a dove with original bar from the statue of

liberty, and key from the maryland hope of elizabeth ann seton in the maryland mountains, the number of embitsburg, maryland. next up here on c-span, we'll show you this morning's ceremony on the south lawn of the white house, including the welcoming comments of president obama and comments, too, from pope francis. >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states and mrs. michelle obama. ["hail to the chief" playing]

♪

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the national anthem of the holy see, followed by the national anthem f the united states. >> present arms. flags, present. ♪

[applause]

present. present. >> mr. president, this concludes the honor. order. order. march.