Pope Francis Makes Visit

This past week Pope Francis visited Washington D.C. to take part in numerous activities.  These events ranged from visiting the White House to participating in a parade and prayer service.  While in the United States, he also made speeches to the Senate and House of Representatives and visited numerous monuments.  One thing during his visit that stood out to me was when he decided to eat a meal with the homeless instead of well-known politicians.  Pope Francis addressed a session of Congress and then shared a blessing and meal with individuals who participate in a homeless meal program.

In my opinion, I really liked that Pope Francis took some extra time out of his day to visit the less fortunate.  This shows that he truly cares for others and is trying to carry on the mission of the church.  Many times people are too caught up in their own lives to realize how good they have it.  They don’t have to worry about how to pay the bills or how to put food on the table.  However, for some people these are daily questions that cross their mind.  Sure, Pope Francis could have participated in a fancy dinner with political officials, but he chose otherwise.  I think that this shows he is not afraid to associate with people of the lower class, even though he can be considered a papal official himself.

Overall, I hope this gesture makes people evaluate their personal lives a little bit more.  Many of us are caught in having the latest and greatest technology and sometimes forget about the little pleasures in life.  We must remember that we are all human and may need help along the way.  This can be done through volunteering or simply lending a hand when approached for help.  By participating in these little acts of kindness, you can feel good about yourself and know you are making a small impact in the world.  You may not be a well-known celebrity or public official, but you have the power to make a difference in your own community.