House Speaker John Boehner, a Jesuit-trained Roman Catholic, invited Jesuit Pope Francis to speak before a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress. Boehner sent a one-page letter to the pope on the first anniversary of his election to the pontificate.
“It is my honor as Speaker, and on behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, to extend to you as head of state of the Holy See an open invitation to appear before and address a Joint Meeting of the two houses of Congress assembled in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
This would be an historic event since no pope has ever addressed a joint meeting of Congress. Nancy Pelosi, house minority leader, also a practicing Catholic, and no stranger to the Jesuits, was “pleased” by the invitation. Vatican sources have said that the pope is considering a visit to the U.S. in 2015.
Pope Francis is very popular with American Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Fifty-five percent of all Americans (60% of Catholics) have a favorable opinion of Pope Francis.
U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with Pope Francis in late March for the first time. He has publicly expressed his admiration for the Pope.
“All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him.” Revelation 13:8