WASHINGTON (CN) - A joint session of Congress broke into applause repeatedly Thursday as Pope Francis touched on divisive issues such as abortion and immigration policy in his address in the House of Representatives.
Francis I became the fourth pope to visit the United States when he landed at Andrews Air Force Base just outside of Washington on Tuesday afternoon, but he is the first pontiff to address Congress.
In addition to social issues that divide the country and its representatives on the Hill, Francis spoke about the economy, the death penalty and the importance of the family.
Introducing himself as a "son of this great continent," Frances noted that his speech was meant, not for the assembled lawmakers, whom he analogized to Moses leading the biblical Israelites, but for the people they represent.
"Your own responsibility as members of Congress is to enable this country, by your legislative activity, to grow as a nation," he said.
Various members of President Barack Obama's cabinet, including Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry, sat in with members of the Senate and House of Representatives for the speech, which also drew four Supreme Court justices and a host of priests, nuns and other religious leaders within the church.
The pope warned about the dangers of polarization and extremism, and commented on the "delicate balance" required to prevent violence from such extremism.
"The contemporary world, with its open wounds which affect so many of our brothers and sisters, demands that we confront every form of polarization which would divide it into these two camps," the pope said. "We know that in the attempt to be freed of the enemy without, we can be tempted to feed the enemy within."
To combat this polarization and extremism, compassionate leadership based on the service of the common good must prevail, he said.
The spiritual leader of an estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics lauded recent moves to "help overcome historic differences" between countries, a possible reference to the United States and Cuba normalizing their relationship. Argentina-born Francis, who is the faith's first Latin American pope and its first Jesuit, helped arrange meetings between the two countries that led to the thaw.
"It is my duty to build bridges and to help all men and women, in any way possible to do the same," the pope said. "When countries which have been at odds resume the path of dialogue - a dialogue which may have been interrupted for the most legitimate of reasons - new opportunities open up for all."
Immigration accounted for the most political segments of the pope's speech. As he spoke about the Golden Rule, and its application to the treatments of immigrants, Democrats in the body stood and cheered, while Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stayed seated or applauded lightly.
"We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation," said Francis. "To respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal."