This. Id like to open it up to questions. I know we have, again theres a lot of interest we have several issues and a lot of them are interconnected as we saw. Who is first . I under how important is the popes science background to the development of his ideas . I know hes got degrees in chemistry . Actually the vatican has held several conferences on science to help educate both the staff. And i think its very interesting in the encyclical, he speaks to the importance of having a dialogue with science. And, you know, i think theres a misperception sometimes borne from a lengthy history that the Catholic Church is somehow hostile towards science. I think thats really an outdated perception. Engagement with the Scientific Community has been very strong, not just on Climate Change. The encyclical talks about gmos. In a very nuanced and interesting way that talked about technology. So ill say two things. First of all, i think it isnt just this pope bumt the Catholic Church has a strong interest in science. This pope seems to be particularly interested. And in the opening, say, seven or eight pages, he does walk through the history of the commentary in the space which i think is particularly interesting, but he is particularly able to speak to some of this science. Some of the reporting in the u. S. Spoke to the fact that the encyclical addresses carbon credits. It wasnt just a science but he was able to speak to the rio convention, carbon credits. Even particular policy initiatives that are out there and Climate Change and genetically modified organisms and else where. I think youll find it very interesting the level to which they have a grasp and understanding of whats going on internationally and domestically. Could any of you comment about the significance of the popes visit to the corrections facility in philadelphia the broader issue he might be focusing on . Im happy to speak about it a bit. It would be more from our point of view that the pope with that visit and in general the conversation about disparities in america i guess is the way i would speak about it. When we think about that from a poverty standpoint i think the visit is important and important to us for a dialogue. We have invested in at Aarp Foundation for example a program in la which is important to us. Fundamentally its a food program called la kitchen but its premise is that neither food nor people should go to waste. Its an interesting combination of taking the abundance of fresh food and the growing amount of food waste in the country but of course in la. Packaging that in nutritious meals that are available to seniors seniors. Thats a multicultural population there. Its combined with a Job Training Program which is for either individuals who have aged out of foster care system and or those who have been released from facilities. Yes, as some of you may know, this is a significant issue in the more general immigration arena. A federal judge about a week or two ago has ordered the release of all mothers and minor children that are being held in detention waiting for their cases to be heard and be assigned, you know, a full hearing at a later date. The detention particularly of unaccompanied minors of children has become a large issue. This continues to be an issue in the next 30 day kz or sos days or so i wouldnt be surprised if the pope would address it. This is a pope that does not hesitate to enter difficult areas and waters. He speaks very frankly very forcefully about these issues. He has done so in the european parliament. He does so regularly in rome. His first visit was in lampadusa is the place where all the immigrants used to come. Theyre coming in all sorts of different places in italy. He has spoken directly about the issue of unaccompanied minors how they cross the border how we ought to treat them et cetera et cetera. I wouldnt be surprised if he were to basically develop a narrative that would address the issues more directly than perhaps any other pope might have. Right here. [ inaudible ] congress is set on these treaty positions. And that the pope may not be able to change much. Let me put a question to you, jason, do you sense any give in congress on any of these three areas that might follow the popes visit . I mean, i dont pretend to know the inner thoughts of or which way the speaker or majority leader or minority leader is. The speaker is a catholic. The minority leader is a catholic. Nancy pelosi. And they dont put religion into their policy positions. I certainly would say that one of the most surprising Political Developments of the last ten, 15 years that ive witnessed. Ive been in washington since 1998 is the rapid evolution on gay marriage. To the point where politically its almost not an issue any longer in congress. No member of Congress Really wants to really talk about it that much anymore because they see where the public is on it. And it is remarkable how quickly congress can change positions on things when they think that the public is getting ahead of them. And in terms of like, where we see the three issues right now. Three of the thorniest issues that congress has dealt with in the last couple of generations, immigration, Climate Change, poverty and income inequality. Were discussing them in congress. But there isnt the impedis for members to talk about this. Particularly with immigration. You have probably seen where Congress Gets very close they may even vote in one chamber overwhelmingly and the moment like just gets away. And so there are so many variables about the issues that i think that its it will be interesting to see how congress approaches what they if they issue policy statements as theyre getting toward the end of the year. Before the popes visit and what they say afterward. I know this is not related to any of the three issues youve come up with. Since the pope is coming from the u. S. In cuba and he played a significant role in releasing allen gross in december and the policy change towards cuba. Im wondering with all the different bills that are going around in congress to soften or even lift the embargo, do you see the pope bringing up the issue, even if its behind closed doors and not publicly . How will his role in this engagement between the u. S. And cuba, you know play in his visit here . Thank you. First of all, i think the white house would likely welcome his engagement on this issue. I absolutely wouldnt be surprised to see him address it in some form or another. Finally, i also think theres more to come from the white house on cuba. I dont think theyre done yet announcing joint initiatives there. And on foreign policy, right now, i think two pieces iran and cuba are shaping up to be two of the major pieces of the president s legacy. And so i think anything from their perspective that raises that the cuba peace will be welcomed by them. I think that thats a very good question. And a very good point you made. I think that were focusing perhaps, too much on exactly what the pope will say or not say and how directly or obliquely he may say it or not say it. During the days leading up to the popes visit, during his visit, and the days after the visit, everybody else will try to use the aura of the pope in order to make statements. So even if the pope does not say the words cuba directly he will probably Say Something about you know, sort of facilitate in a dialogue and opening up within latin america. After all lets not forget this is a pope that understands, has lived all his life preached became a cardinal in latin america. He has lived with these issues. And the president if nobody else does that the president will speak about the popes role in the opening toward cuba. I think all of these issues will be put on the table directly or indirectly. I want to add to that great point which is to say ill use an analogy. I dont know how many of you saw the film interstellar. A long complex movie. Somebody said what it was about. I said it was about love. That was actually what the film was about. And i think in the end, what the pope would say this visit is about is probably about love. You can read the entire encyclical, and in the end when you look at it its about interconnectedness and love between people and nature. So thats very tough to cover as a reporter because you cant write a story about love and interconnectedness. But we by our very nature by being washington wanted to cover all the political pieces. But whether its cuba or Something Else it will be from his perspective on the interconnectedness and love and peace and joy. I think youre right. Both of my colleagues. I cant speak to your specific question but it goes back to the earlier point about this being the unique moment in time to come together and think about issues broadly around common humanity and sharehead accountability when we look at the issues particularly about lifting people out of poverty. Anything we can do to be sure the facts are shared, about the status and disparities across racial and ethnic lines and providing some information on solutions that might work. We all do better when each and every member does a bit better, too. If i may, i one thing we do keep on coming back to is this popes ideas about dignity about the essential dignity of human beings. And its it is difficult sometimes, to convey that in a political system thats based on conflict. I wonder is do you have as policy people, do you have advice for other policy people for reporters, for, you know the lay person or observer . How do you both address that this is a political event i mean, hes a head of state. Hes going to congress. Hes going to the white house. How do you mix those . How do you, you know, make that transition from talking about the politics of it and again our conflict driven political system to this other i know, unfortunately, alien concept of dignity and love for other people. Let me sort of take this on for a second. I think this pope is a globalalist in the most fundamental sense of the word. We know that the Catholic Church thinks of itself and is, you know, a universal church. We all understand that. This particular pope speaks very directly about globalization and he speaks repeatedly about globalization. In lampadusa he spoke of the globalization of indifference. And he contrasted that with the globalization with charity and cooperation. So here is one of many, many instances, you know, where the pope wants us to sort of wants to push against sort of the frames we think each would discuss policy issues and makes him larger. He borrows language from the University Declaration and human rights. He speaks clearly about the application of the refugee convention. These are documents that have been around for 60 65 years. These are documents that in the United States have restricted use in the universal declaration of human rights. These are the kinds of things he speaks very clearly about. He expects his audiences, you know, since he has a captive audience every time he speaks, he expects people to actually engage. He wants to force people to engage those big issues from a far broader perspective. It goes well beyond catholic teaching, as it were. You know, i would agree. And im not speaking from a policy standpoint. But i think youre right. Just the requirement of a conversation that is a global conversation that could be an opportunity for all of us, is that one needs to know our own place in that dialogue more solidly. The opportunity from my point of view to speak about where we are at with the issue of hunger and how persistent it and poverty are across all age groups. Becomes really important. It allows us to be a smarter participate. As youre saying, this important global dialogue. Solving for hunger requires we solve it here, not just for children, but also for Older Americans. And that we solve this when we think about the interconnectedness of food chain around the world. I think its an opportunity. Its also an opportunity for us to in the face of our conversation about what doesnt work to talk about programs that are supported by the government that do work, like the w i c programs and s. N. A. P. Program. They are antipoverty programs that have worked over time and bolster our sense that hunger is a Public Health issue. They highlight for us when we dont have adequate accessible nutrition, how difficult it is for young people and also young people to participate and be educated as fully as they need to be to be successful. And for Older Americans without proper nutrition to become so ill with chronic diseases that, too, no longer can live their best lives. Were in a aging society where there will be many, many more Older Americans. The good news is well live longer. If youre in difficulty that can be challenging news as well mpts i do see this as a time to broaden our position in order to engage in the global conversation. Ill add to that by saying that the pope as a globalalist comes with ratifying a treaty is a big thing. We have the iran package before us. We also have the asian trade deal and the Paris Climate Summit coming up at the end of the year. Its very difficult to muster 67 votes in the senate to give advice and consent to a treaty. At the same time, we have institutions that are aging the un, world bank, and the rise of counterinstitutions like the Asian Infrastructure bank and the question about the u. S. s role in the world and whether americans should continue to run these institutions and how these elections happen and whether the how the chinese indians want to play and the fact the indian population will be that than china ten years earlier than thought. The pope comes in as a Global Leader as an embodiment of some of the change thats happening. In the u. S. We have a struggle between parochialism and globalalist. We had the reaction to the job losses from nafta, you can argue about when they caused them but theres a sense in the United States that it did and the reaction against it. He comes in as someone who is engaging us as a global player. We are a Global Leader. But were having difficulty even renewing the xm bank. So i think that is a fundamental undercurrent and challenge as we look at this through a political frame to say how are we looking at all of these thing . We have world bank, trade deals International Treaties that we are having difficulty getting through our congress because we have the parochial versus global struggle. He is going to engage at this very broad level because the Catholic Church all of the growth is in the global self. We are struggling with that as a country. You see the backlash and struggle were having with our changes of multiculture society. When whites become a minority in this country. He comes in at this fascinating cross current in the middle of an election to indirectly in some ways he is the embodiment of globalism. He doesnt have to say it he is by virtue of being there. That will have the long term undercurrent and ripple effects that are very difficult to see right now. But you can look at it through whatever lens of whatever beat youre covering to see how the struggle is playing itself out now on so many issues on capitol hill. Not just ours, but others as well. Let me add one point if i might while youre thinking of your next question. The timing of his visit may be unfortunate, precisely for the reasons that kelly mentioned. In order well be in the midst about the argument about iran. Well have to pass budgets. We know we wont. But, you know, none the less you know we will try to do something or whatever. And so unless you folks begin to write about folks with in the next week and keep pestering your editors, you should have an article in each one of your outlets for whatever the next 30 or 40 days. Its entirely possible that the other issues that will simply be fuelling the fires of arguments of disagreements in washington may not allow the popes message and his activities on immigration or climate or poverty and all that. And may make it you know, something that may disappear from the headlines within a day or two or three of his visit in washington. Now, in philadelphia, the local papers and new york, dont forget hes going to be doing and talking about all of these issues in several places. In new york he will be meeting with immigrant families. In philadelphia he will be dedicating a speech in Independence Square on immigration. This way people can pay more attention. But will his message be able to cut through the din of the arguments in washington . I donot know. This is yus an aside. I was thinking about when you were asking the question the question was asked about timing. The popes visit is sort of the third and fourth week of the month. And s. N. A. P. Benefits for individuals and families tend to run out by the end of the third week in the month. Thats an interesting it is. He will be here during the week of each month that is the most challenging for food insecure and or hungry people. Id like to ask each one of you to describe online resources where journalists can get data and statistics on your particular area of expertise . I can start. I brought literature sitting there in the front of the room. People will tell you. That is the legitimate and the authoritiative sources statistics and analysis. This is not what we say this is what others say. We have an amazing very interactive, very up to date website where you can get everything that you need to get on this particular issue. In addition to downloading the encyclical which you can google and have it on your ipad, id recommend climate. Gov which is the u. S. Government site. Its good in general and they have photos and publicly sourced materials that you can use without having to get a bunch of information. Id recommend i brought this because i happened to get it in the mail. National geographic has a cover about the pope francis visit which i thought was informative. And then Climate Nexus, which is a nexus Climate Nexus has a ton of sources on Climate Change which i think are quite useful. You can certainly go to aarp