Pope Francis addresses issues and important topics while on his visit to the United States with speeches and the release of an album.
Pope Francis visited the United States for the first time and stopped in Washington D.C., New York, and Philadelphia. He talked and addressed the Catholic Church and others on numerous subjects such as abuse of wealth, climate change, and sexual abuse, according to CNN.
He even revealed he was releasing an album called “Wake Up!" reported Rolling Stone.
“In this visit, the things that I felt that had a positive impact on the Catholic community were bringing hope to the community,” said Lexie Arrunada, a junior from Delaware studying psychology and a convert from the Catholic religion.
Ines Almeida, a sophomore studying exercise and sports science from Portugal, said about the Pope, “Everyone loves when the Pope visits their country because he brings a powerful message for all. For me, it was really important since the U.S. is my home now and having him in my home is a gift everyone wishes for.”
According to CNN, he became the first pope to address Congress and canonize a saint on U.S. soil in Washington. In New York, he visited the 9/11 memorial and said that the world would never forget those who suffered and died. In Philadelphia, the Pope praised religious freedom and immigration in America in front of Independence Hall, also warning that injustice can tear down a society.
“I love how his message is so powerful and how he is changing the religion view on so many important subjects,” said Almeida. “For example, he supports single mothers, he said they are the most strong women in the world...for me everything he does is positive, and I love his intentions and the way he is trying to fix the world.”
The Pope revealed during his trip that he was dropping an album called “Wake Up!” with 11 songs on it in Italian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, according to Rolling Stone magazine. The songs are said to address issues such as dignity, peace, helping those in need, and environmental concerns, reported Rolling Stone.
Almeida said about the album, “I think the releasing of the album is pretty funny, and shows how he wants to be one of us and not stand above like all the other Pope’s did.”
Arrunada revealed that she had “never heard of a public religious figure doing such a thing... He seems to be trying to relate to worldly things to get through to the people. Who knows though, it might be a good album.”
In his trip, the Pope also addressed the topic of sexual abuse by clergy, meeting with five victims privately and talking with them before addressing news and crowds.
He said on television, “We know that abuses are everywhere-in families, in the neighborhoods, in the schools, in the gyms. But when a priest abuses, it is a very serious because the vocation of the priest is to make that boy, that girl grow toward the love of God, toward maturity and toward good. But instead of that, it squashed it.”
“If people let this Pope stay for a long time and believe in him, I'm sure he is going to make amazing changes in the world,” said Almeida.