Congress warns against traditional gesture for Pope Francis' visit
FREE Catholic Classes
A joint meeting of the House and Senate in Washington, D.C. will be held next week, and Pope Francis will become the first pontiff to address such a gathering. However, the Congressional leaders have asked their co-lawmakers to avoid the traditional gesture of glad-handing.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
9/21/2015 (9 years ago)
Published in Politics & Policy
Keywords: Pope Francis, Congress, Senate
MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConell, and House Speaker John Boehner, sent a letter to the members of the Congress asking them to refrain from the joyous handshaking once Pope Francis enters the room for the event.
Glad-handing is usually initiated during political events; Congressional leaders would like to totally phase out this kind of gesture during the Pope events.
The letter stated, "Out of respect for the pope's schedule and the expectation of a timely address, we respectfully request that you assist us by refraining from handshakes and conversations along and down the center aisle."
This request is the complete opposite of what the politicians practice during the presidential State of the Union address every year where they hug and shake hands with the President, as soon as he enters the room and heads over to the lectern.
As a follow-up to the issuance of the letter, the politicians will be directed on how they should behave in front of the Pope, when he arrives on September 24, in Capitol Hill. The lawmakers are expect no one on the Republican or Democratic side will be cheering in response to the Pope, as the joint meeting between the House and Senate Leaders is a political event where silence is needed.
The Department guidelines also stated that the lawmakers should refrain from hugging or shaking hands with the pope, unless he will be the one to initiate it. Other than this, they are also expected to wear conservative clothes in dark colors for this occasion.
In case Pope Francis is the one who reaches out to the lawmakers, the latter can only shake his hand or kiss the ring on his right hand.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

Netanyahu Calls Pope Leo XIV After Deadly Strike on Gaza Church

Syrian Christian Communities Under Attack Amid Sectarian Turmoil

Catholic Online AI Open Letter
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Saturday, July 19, 2025
St. Arsenius the Great: Saint of the Day for Saturday, July 19, 2025
A Prayer for Peace of Mind (by Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini): Prayer of the Day for Saturday, July 19, 2025
Daily Readings for Friday, July 18, 2025
St. Frederick: Saint of the Day for Friday, July 18, 2025
- Act of Faith: Prayer of the Day for Friday, July 18, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.