weijia jiang spoke with the carpenter who constructed that chair.jiang is here with more. >> reporter: good morning to everybody again. the carpenter tells us he studied the pope's basilica for guidance and inspiration for this chair. he used local sustainable wood and made it as simple as possible. that is not to say it was easy. professional carpenter dave cahoon. >> another day at the shop, isn't it, kevin? >> reporter: building furniture is usually an easy job, but he admits this one is daunting because of who it's for. >> the holy father is going to be here and it has been ready for him in time. >> reporter: pope francis will sit in an hand-crafted chair when he says mass in front of thousands on wednesday at the basilica of the national shrine of the immaculate conception in washington. it's especially meaningful for cahoon. he is a deacon at his church in maryland. >> an honor and it's an opportunity for me to give back the talent that god has given me. the base is made out of wood. >> reporter: he also built a new altar for the service, meti

he said if you can't pray, offer me good wishes. >> weijia jiang in washington dc. thank you. >>> and here in the bay area, hundreds of students got up early to watch the pope's speech. very early. kpix5's kit do reports. >> reporter: if you ever tried to get a teenager up early for anything, you know this is a big deal. it is a pope watch party at presentation high school. the largest catholic girl school in the south bay. nearly 500 students gathered in the gym before sunrise to hear pope francis address congress live and share this historic moment together. >> a delicate balance is required to combat violence. >> we are a really tight-knit community. to be here watching this together is really meaningful to the catholic community. >> reporter: what better way to engage kids than with a cardboard cut out for selfies. pope masks and pope bingo. >> what would he think of a selfie station? >> he would laugh because he is a joyful person. he would be okay with it. >> reporter: in an age where so much of what we see is scripted or photoshopped, religious scholars he ha

. >> we have team coverage of the papal visit beginning with weijia jiang live in d.c. >> reporter: mary and chris, you can always feel the love for the pope pouring in from all directions. he spoke english for the first time publicly during this trip when he gave his speech. but nothing was lost in translation. even though it is a language pretty new to him, he was emotional and he was political, weighing in on several important issues to the u.s. >> a joyous crowd welcomed pope francis to the white house this morning during his first official visit to the u.s. spooking in english, the argentinian argentinian said he was hopeful. >> i am happy to be a guest in this country which -- >> the remarks went beyond pleasantries to address america's improving relations with cuba. also to reject unjust discrimination and protect religious liberty. was dedicated to climate change. >> mr. president, i am finding it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution. >> reporter: president obama said pope francis set a profound moral example. >> you shake our conscience fro

weijia jiang is in washington. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you to everybody. lawmakers have pledged to put their political and religious differences aside from the day and already what we have heard already from pope francis is any indication, he won't be afraid to weigh in on tough issues even before a tough crowd. pope francis will take his message to a divided capitol hill today. in the first-ever papal address before a joint meeting of congress. >> i hope the often words of encouragement to guide the nations in the future. >> reporter: while the vatican has kept a tight lid on what he will say, the holy father is expected to talk about immigration, a hot button issue he urged bishops to fight for during his first full day in washington, d.c. 5-year-old sophie cruz handed a letter to pope francis wednesday hoping francis delivers her plea to lawmakers today. >> our immigration my dad in this country. [ inaudible ]. >> reporter: on wince, francis made an visit to the little sisters of the poor. a religious order that is suing the federal government over the

he will wrap up his stay in tooub cuba with another mass weijia jiang is in washington. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, anne-marie. good morning, everybody. pope frances has a patched schedule during his stay here in the united states. he will spend two days here in the nation's capital where he will receive a rare presidential welcome when he arrives. pope frances arrives to the patron saint santiago this morning. monday frances blessed the city. during his visit. the spokesman says his choice to travel to the u.s. from here is more about reconciliation. "the decision to make a trip to both countries, truly is a strong message to encourage this process that has subsequent steps, requests he says. in d.c., where the pope will stop first, federal officials have heightened security in posing restrictions on items like bicycles and backpacks and shutting down roads him but that's not stopping kevin gossing from getting excited. >> it would be great to get to do that until like say i shook his hands. he's a very holy person. he's a good person. >> reporter: in a rar

cbs's weijia jiang with the latest from her his visit from washington. >> reporter: pope francis talk about many different issues including immigration, climate change, and the sanctity of marriage and family. he wove in american values and history through the entire speech drawing huge applause, and many standing ovations. pope francis received a standing ovation, as lawmakers welcomed him to the heart of the us government. he's the first pope to address a joint meeting of congress. >> his speech focused on topics familiar to these lawmakers including chime at change, religious extremism. >> delicate bond is required to combat violence, perpetrated in the name of our religion. >> on immigration, francis called for greater understanding of those who come to the u.s. looking for a bert life. >> we must not be taken a back by the numbers, but rather use use -- see the faces, and listening -- (applause). >> seated behind the pope were vice president joe biden and house speaker john boehner, the highest ranking catholics in the u.s. government. outside the capitol, thousands watched and l

i'm weijia jiang at arlington national cemetery with that story coming up. >>> every year thousands of remains go unclaimed, and many of them belong to american veterans. >> weijia jiang shows us how a nonprofit group is working to give them a final resting place at arlington national cemetery. >> reporter: roger spends most of his free time leading funeral processions for strangers. >> a veteran may pass away with no next of kin, but he certainly has family. you're looking at it right here. >> reporter: graves is part of the missing in america project. volunteers locate, identify, and bury the cremated remains of u.s. veterans who are unclaimed. >> when you look at each one of these, what do you see? >> i see valor. heroes. >> we go in to funeral homes, crematoriums and corners. >> reporter: a vietnam vet started the mission in 2006. >> i ball -- i bawl at every one of these things. even now i'm getting emotional. >> reporter: this is the second time they've come to arlington. >> there's nothing else we can do to elevate and show more honor and dignity and respect than to inture a vet

weijia jiang is live from washington with more. weijia, good morning. >> reporter: good morning mary and chris and everybody. it was a quiet first night in the u.s. for pope francis who will be waking up at the vatican embassy where he's staying here in washington. after the unforgettable welcome to the country, today we will get a good idea of what he wants to say to americans. >>> francis will begin his first full day on u.s. soil with a grand arrival ceremony on the white house lawn, follow bade private meeting with president obama. >> this is not a meeting between politicians but rather an opportunity for two respected world leaders with significant influence around the world to talk about the values they hold in common. >> reporter: thousand will line the streets for the ellipse to the national mall to catch a glimpse of the pope. emily is a 23-year-old soprano, one of 90 choir members tapped to sing for francis at the national shrine of the immaculate conception this afternoon. >> we have to be in control and remember everythi

weijia jiang reports. >> reporter: pope francis is making it easier for catholics to annul a marriage. the pope is introducing a fast track process to allow bishops to review applications if neither is contesting. >> the process of healing the people has been at the heart of everything he's done. >> reporter: he's making it free so the faithful can find justice. annulments are granted if the couple -- it's a process where the church can offer people's stories because no two stories are the same. >> reporter: catholics must get an annulment if they want to remarry in the church. those who want to marry in civil court are considered sinners. >> i have an annulment with the old way but i hope the new will bring people back to the church. >> the pope says marriage should never be broken but it's motivated by the salvation of souls. >> the annulment process will be free of charge. and he's asking bishops to be more welcoming to divorced and separated catholics. the pope arrives september 24th. look for live coverage on cbs. jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses is expecting high p

weijia jiang with a preview from washington. chris, mary, and everybody. final preparations are underway here in washington, dc. crews are putting fences around the capitol and starting to shut roads down. the pope will receive a welcome reserved for very few people. >> reporter: pope francis will return to the shrine of the patron day saint where he will deliver his final homily during this trip. he hastad away -- he has stayed away from making political speeches on this trip. kevin dawson won a ticket to greet him. >> it would be great to shake his hand. he's a holy, good person. >> reporter: president obama and mrs. obama will be there to personally welcome him when he lands. he has a packed schedule here in washington. tomorrow meeting with president obama at the white house and about 300 american bishops for a prayer service before he meets with a joint house of congress. >>> parking in certain areas here in the city is already being restricted. and janelle burrell is live on central park west with more. >> reporter: chris, you imagine coordinating th

weijia jiang, live in washington, d.c. cbs2 news. >> thank you, weijia. the pope's arrival on thursday will be the first for the head of the roman catholic church there. are concerns about mixing politics and religion. >> i think we will see a different reaction on both sides of the aisle. the republicans will be of the things he said while better. and the other, democrats enthusiastic on some of the things he said while the republicans are sitting on their hands. please anybody. his job is to please god. >> reporter: the pope's hope with the visit is to reawaken the spiritual sentiments with the people. the address will be broadcast around the world. >>> before that address with the congress the pope has a full day of events tomorrow in washington. he begins the day at the white house and president obama. then he visits the cathedral of saint matthew for a prayer service and the basilica of the national shrine for mass. >>> security is taking place in new york for the pope's arrival on thursday. we have cbs2 news janelle burrell live with more on what is

and cbs2's weijia jiang joins us now live. she's continuing our team coverage with that part of the story. weijia, good morning. >> reporter: good morning mary and good morning to everybody. caring for the poor is so important to pope francis. he talks about it all the time. so it's no surprise he put this special lunch on his schedule. he'll be breaking bread with hundreds of homeless people. >> amen, god bless you all. thanks for coming guys. >> reporter: every week the catholic charities of the archdiocese of washington serves up a hot meal to anyone in need. >> i think they receive dignity. >> the line forms early and tracy uses a walker to get here and knows all the volunteers and staff. >> it's good. good people. >> reporter: the meals program serves 300 to 500 people every wednesday. this week they're setting a special table for a visit from pope francis. >> the way that he takes his mission and lives it out is inspiring. >> reporter: cardinal donald whirl believes the blessing the the pope will boost homeless programs b

here's weijia jiang. >> reporter: this fire at a planned parenthooded clinic in pullman, washington, was ruled an arson, a recent example of why the f.b.i. has released a new intelligence warning saying, "criminal or suspicious incidents will continue to be directed against reproductive health care providers, their staff, and facilities." federal investigators report there have been nine attacks on reproductive health care facilities across the country, including cyber attacks, threat, and arsons. on july 19, someone started a fire at the planned parenthood clinic in auror aillinois. then on august 1, in new orleans, a vehicle was set on fire at a facility under construction. the incidents started after an antiabortion organization released undercover videos claiming planned parenthood has illegally profited from selling fetal tissue to researchers. planned parenthood denies selling fetal tissue, and says the videos were deceptively edited. now they're concerned about the safety of staff and patients. today the group released a statement saying in part: >> how can anyone defend the s

in washington, weijia jiang cbs news. >>> stay for continuing coverage of the pope of historic visit. you can hop online to cbsphilly.com. >>> right now it's 6:07. no charnleys will be filed against a septa paratransit bus driver who hit and killed a toddler in south philly philadelphia. he ran into the street near the intersection at 21st and morris happened after 5:00 last night. the young boy's family says he was visiting his cousin's house with his father at the time. we spoke with one of the child's family members. >> not even 40 seconds. it was very quick. no one -- no one know, he was running in the street. if we would know, you know, we would have talked to them. >> the toddler was pronounced dead at the hospital. . >>> some scary moments at a gas station in south jersey when a car catches fire, check out that video right there. smoke and flames spread at the luke oil on route 73 in mt. laurel. started when the driver of a smoking car pulled up to the station, igniting gas pump. two good samaritans jumped into action helping the owner prevent the flames from spreading further.

president xi just spoke with weijia jiang now here's a look at what's going on outside your window. and said the following. is that a true statement? >> look. our senses is that there has been the theft of trade secrets emanating from china. we have said that in many different ways. and taken some actions to demonstrate that that is what we believe. but our view is that american businesses need to know that their trade secrets there and intellectual property isn't going to be stolen and we are serious about taking action. >> reporter: the united states has accused china of theft of commercial secrets. why wouldn't you impose sanctions? you have that power. >> the sanctions would have to be imposed on individuals or organizations where you can make the direct link to the actions that have been taken. so i'm not going to get ahead of where the process is. we take it very, very seriously. it's like a law enforcement function. it's an enforcement function and the people who work on it build very detailed records. >> reporter: imagine that diplomatic dance and more of my conversation wit