Pope Francis Tells Congress: 'Human Life Must Be Protected'

While continuing his first visit to the United States this week, Pope Francis spoke Thursday to Congress about the importance of respecting human life, referencing specifically the importance of abolishing the death penalty.

After receiving a warm welcome from the House Chamber on Thursday morning, Francis focused his speech on the importance of abolishing of the death penalty as well as addressing the current immigrant crisis.

The pope noted that it is the Catholic church's goal to "protect and defend human life at every stage of its development."

While the pope did discuss the death penalty, he did not specifically mention abortion, as several pro-life lawmakers have recently pushed legislation that seeks to defund Planned Parenthood and end abortons after 20 weeks gestation, among other measures.

Francis also focused Thursday's speech on the importance of accepting the "stranger," pointing specifically to the current immigrant crisis resulting in an influx of foreigners from countries like Syria.

"We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners," Francis said, according to the New York Times. "I say this to you as the son of immigrants, knowing that so many of you are also descended from immigrants."

Francis went on to add that on the North American continent, "thousands of persons are led to travel north in search of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones, in search of greater opportunities. Is that not what we want for our own children? We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation."