Pope Plunges Into Political Fray on Climate, Immigration
- Francis backs Obama on cutting emissions, opening to Cuba
- Pope urges respect for "right to religious liberty" in U.S.
President Barack Obama welcomes Pope Francis to the White House on Sept. 23, 2015, in Washington.
This article is for subscribers only.
Pope Francis plunged directly into some of the most politically charged debates in the U.S., declaring support for President Barack Obama’s drive to fight climate change and his opening to Cuba, as well as making a plea to welcome and protect immigrants.
During a celebratory greeting with pomp and bunting at the White House and an address later to U.S. bishops, the leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics also made plain his disagreements with the administration. He urged respect for Americans’ “right to religious liberty,” a reference to deep differences with Obama on abortion rights, contraception and same-sex marriage.