In America's birthplace, pope gives pep talk to immigrants
Pope Francis, speaking in America's birthplace on September 26, offered stout words of support to Hispanic and other immigrants in the United States, telling them not to be discouraged at a time when some prominent politicians are directing hostility toward them.
The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff toured Independence Hall in Philadelphia before addressing a crowd estimated at more than 40,000 outside the 18th century red brick building where basic American liberties were proclaimed and where independence from Britain was declared.
"Do not be discouraged by whatever challenges and hardships you face," the pope told the many Hispanics and other recent immigrants to the United States in the crowd, adding that he felt "particular affection" toward them.
During his first visit to the United States, the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics on September 24 had urged Americans in a historic speech to Congress to reject "a mindset of hostility" toward immigrants. He expanded on that issue in his Philadelphia speech, delivered in Spanish.
Francis said immigrants "bring many gifts" to their new nation. Francis noted that US history includes ending slavery in the 1860s and "the gradual effort to eliminate every kind of racism and prejudice directed at successive waves of new Americans."
"Remembrance saves a people's soul from whatever or whoever would attempt to dominate it or use it for their interests," he said.
Harsh rhetoric toward illegal immigrants has featured heavily in the race for the Republican nomination for the November 2016 US presidential election.