The Best Congressional Tweets on #Popeapalooza
After rolling into town late Tuesday in an armor-plated Fiat, Pope Francis made his public debut Wednesday via an early morning visit to the White House and a carefully choreographed lap around the Ellipse.
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum seemed thrilled to have the head of the Catholic church around, sharing candid pics and heartfelt observations about the momentous occasion on social media. One-time seminarian Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-Va., appeared to take the whole two-worlds-colliding thing in stride.
Honor to greet @Pontifex at the White House. Wonderful ceremony! Hopeful and inspiring message #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/juLXQK3iG7
— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) September 23, 2015
Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., kicked it live with clergy.
A true honor to welcome @Pontifex to the US at the White House today with Father Sadie. #PopeinDC #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/9NpwEZHklJ
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) September 23, 2015
Sen. Richard M. Burr, R-N.C., volunteered to shepherd His Holiness around.
Happy to give @Pontifex a ride in The Thing if the Popemobile breaks down #PopeinDC pic.twitter.com/8guKpufaPS — Richard Burr (@SenatorBurr) September 23, 2015
Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., piled into pics with colleagues.
A pair of my colleagues joined me watching #popeindc at the @whitehouse. It was great to see the former Speaker, now our... Posted by U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas on Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, gave thanks to the American automotive industry.
@Pontifex sure knows how to arrive in style. He's traveling in a retrofitted Jeep Wrangler made in Toledo! https://t.co/kybLLqPHa3 #PopeinDC
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) September 23, 2015
Rep. Norma J. Torres, D-Calif., worked on her material.
"welcome to the @WhiteHouse, usually not this crowded" - @BarackObama #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/HJcuVSPQJ3 — Rep. Norma Torres (@NormaJTorres) September 23, 2015
While Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., let a felt frog do the talking for her.
Folks are loving the #PopeInDC but #DC drivers be freaking out (or is it Kermiting out) about traffic like: pic.twitter.com/MzopuDeE5V
— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) September 23, 2015
Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, parsed papal pronouncements for legislative guidance.
I was touched by the Holy Father's humility & call to action to take care of our "common home" #PopeInDC #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/9IcFKu1wBr
— Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) September 23, 2015
Whereas former Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, took the opportunity to throw stones at broadcasting pariah Brian Williams.
Wait, #BrianWilliams is on TV again today? But, it isn't even April Fool's Day. Oh wait, he is on @MSNBC. That explains it. #PopeInDC
— Steve Stockman (@SteveWorks4You) September 23, 2015
Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., held out hope for an enlightening Thursday.
On my way back to DC. Looking forward to hearing from @Pontifex at tomorrow’s historic joint meeting. #PopeinDC pic.twitter.com/fwXkwlpJ4U — Rep. Suzan DelBene (@RepDelBene) September 23, 2015
And, of course, meme-tacular Sen. Charles E. Grassley provided a blow-by-increasingly-agitated-blow account of his pontiff stalking.
Several senators and spouses on bus to White House to greet Pope Francis We will cool heels for two hrs on lawn til ceremony
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
Up and at ‘em!
Seeing Pope Francis will be my second w a pope. First was Pope John Paul at White House after he was in Iowa 35 yrs ago — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
The way we were.
Seated on whitehouse lawn at 7am. Pope arrived 9am.
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
Tick tock, tick tock.
This pix just 1/3 of bleachers filled at 7am to see pope. I think u get the "idea" A photo posted by Chuck Grassley (@senatorchuckgrassley) on
Show and tell time.
Reunited, and it feels so guuuuud….
Red carpet is podium where Obama and pope will speak A photo posted by Chuck Grassley (@senatorchuckgrassley) on
Get this man a job on E!
White House furnished towels to wipe dew off chairs
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
U might not believe this but Repulicans talking to democrats and house members talking to Senators while waiting for Francis — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
End of days?
Somebody fr whitehouse just chkd sound system for pope visit. The gentleman correctly counted 1to 10 and did it loudly
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
Bored now.
Another whitehouse person just wiped dew off podium — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
Get on with it, already.
Nice pile of bricks.
Sound of drums. Military band coming — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
The gathering storm.
Band plays Washington Post March.
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
Who needs Shazam?
Band plays this is my country land of my birth — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
Uh-huh.
Band plays God Bless America
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
Wait for it …
What happened? This was supposed to start at 9am — ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
The worm has turned.
At rate crowd leaves whitehouse it will take hr to get bk to Hill
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) September 23, 2015
Assume sked shot.
While we were waiting for two hrs for pope Mrs Grassley and Mrs Loebsack talked quietly the whole time. Difficult to eavesdrop but I assume they solved all worlds problems the congressman and I visited too but not so long A photo posted by Chuck Grassley (@senatorchuckgrassley) on
At least something good came out of all of this.
God bless us, everyone.
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