This morning, after having watched the rest of the city get their chance to see Pope Francis, it was finally Capitol Hill’s turn. As a special invited guest of Congress, he addressed a joint session. The tickets to be inside the chamber quickly became some of the hottest ones in town. Instead, like thousands of others, The Hill is Home made their way to the lawn just west of the Capitol to see this momentous occasion.
Despite the huge number of people that were there, and the necessary security, it was a peaceful and happy crowd that streamed in.
Security was tight – but well-handled. Time spent in line? Negligible. With agents from ATF, CBP, and TSA on hand to support the Capitol and MPD, crowd control was excellent.
The media were out in force, whether circulating through the crowd, or hunkered in their own zone in the back corner.
…or doing yet another standup in front of the Capitol.
…or convincing a young visitor that the binoculars should be trained at the Capitol, not at the cameraman. The young man’s mother is attempting to do on-the-spot media training.
The Pope arrived on the east front, but the Jumbotrons kept the masses on the west front apprised of his location at all times – such as his visit in the Speaker’s office after arrival.
Here a sense of the crowd waiting for the big moment.
The pontiff arriving in the House chambers, unencumbered by handshakes, high-fives, or hugs.
Francis addressed a wide variety of subjects close to his heart, including human-caused environmental damage.
After his speech, he had a look at the statue of Junípero Serra in Statuary Hall, which is directly behind this Jumbotron.
And then, the moment everyone had been waiting for – Francis’s appearance on the Speaker’s Balcony.
Instead of using English, as he had on the House floor, Francis spoke a few words in Spanish, that were then translated.
One last wave to the crowd, and he was off to serve dinner at a soup kitchen.
Shortly afterwards, the various police forces were being bussed out – here, the ATF agents board their bus. (all pictures by Robert Pohl)