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spanish speaking christians were in the united states before the pilgrims landed on plymouth rock. >> spanish was the first non-indigenous language spoken in the united states, what became the united states. many people don't know that. peter, let's end on this one point, though. just to iterate it, that in your research and your understanding of the role of jun apair row sara, when you look at it on balance, was he somebody that does not deserve to be painted with the brush of having been abusive? >> i think he's a very good example of what pope francis and many, many talk about the need to have a culture in which people meet each other face to face. what sara added to the mix was the presentation of the european gospel to the indigenous, and he had it. he spoke their language. he learned their language. he was part of -- this is why we have cities named san francisco in california today. and i agree with you totally that it has to be an open debate. and that's something that pope francis himself has tried to
encourage, that we have a debate about these conflictual issu. but at the same time he wants to give a model for hispanic catholics in the u.s. >> and they have chosen sara for that. it will be a big first. he will be a saint and certainly that's not supposed to be somebody who's the point of debate. that would suggest the debate is settled with they're being made a saint after being beat i fied the first step in the process by pope john paul ii now pope francis on american soil. big move. peter, thank you for helping us understand it. brooke, no question there's controversy. people will say they're making the guy a saint. why would you bling this up? but you need to as peter said, when there's controversy, nobody wants to go out it more than pope francis. he's got an expression, making a mess. he wants to get into things that are controversial, talk about them. that's how you progress. >> right. we talked so much about what he discussed with president obama, what he said already today. we'll get into what he may say his message as he speaks to congress tomorrow.
is not just for this experience but the significance with the canonization. we'll keep talking about it. big moment with the pope, the picture together, the blessing. she manhandled him. we thought it would be a security situation, but it wound up being very good. let's bring in father peter sass arella. sa oat professor of theology university of notre dame. good to have you with us. you hear us talking about jun apair row sarah. there is controversy. what is your take about why the vatican chose jun apair row sarah? >> it's a very healthy kvl conversation i think. the clash between the spanish colonial culture and indigenous culture did have violent encounters. when you mention -- or dominican -- these were exceptions rather than the rule. and these men actually took the indigenou cultures very seriously. in my own personal research and the research that the vatican did very thoroughly looking at