Sen. Patrick Leahy says Pope Francis' visit to Washington is a defining moment of Leahy's 40 year Congressional career.
And Leahy says he fully supports the pope's decision to speak out on environmental and economic issues.
Growing up in a Catholic family in Vermont, Leahy says his father told him stories of being told not to apply for certain jobs because of his faith.
And Leahy remembers the 1960 presidential election when some Vermonters told him that they couldn't vote for Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy because Kennedy was a Catholic.
But Leahy says it's clear that a lot has changed over the past few decades to reduce this kind of discrimination.
Leahy is the senior most Catholic member of Congress. He spent Wednesday at a White House ceremony honoring Pope Francis and he attended a special Papal Mass in the afternoon.
Leahy says the pope's basic message is one of compassion for all people.
"He's speaking not just to your religion, no matter what religion you have, or you have none, he's speaking to basic humanity and we need more of that," Leahy says.
"We can get so polarized politically even in the faith community and he's saying basically we're all God's children. Let's start treating each other like that."
"[The pope] is speaking not just to your religion — no matter what religion you have, or you have none — he's speaking to basic humanity and we need more of that." Sen. Patrick Leahy
Some members of Congress have criticized Pope Francis for speaking out on issues such as climate change and income inequality. Leahy says he thinks it's very important for the pope to address these concerns.
"His condemnation of war, his urging of helping immigrants, protecting the environment for the next generation these go way beyond any particular religion they go to his humanity and I think the Pope is wise to speak about humanity," Leahy says.
On Thursday, Pope Francis will be the first pope to ever address a Joint Session of Congress. Leahy will serve as part of the Congressional escort committee for this event and he will be part of a special reception for the pope that will be held on the balcony of Leahy's Senate office.
