TOOLKIT Welcome Pope Francis
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Welcome Pope Francis
TOOLKIT
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Pope Francis in the United States:
A Journey from Exclusion to Encounter
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Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States (Sept. 22nd-27th) has the potential to be a
transformational moment for Catholics and all Americans. His words and deeds have inspired
people across race, class, religion and ideology.
Americans of all backgrounds are listening closely to a Pope who puts human dignity
and the common good before a profit-first mentality. People are energized by the Pope’s
call to community, and his insistence that the moral measure of a society is found not in how
high our stock market soars or in the might of our military, but in how we treat those on the
margins.
Pope Francis challenges us all to confront a culture of exclusion and indifference. When
the economy only works for the wealthiest few, it’s time to get back to basic values. When a
broken immigration system and mass incarceration tear apart families and communities, the
status quo isn’t good enough. The Pope sees the every human being and every miracle of
creation as sacred in the eyes of God. He wants a “globalization of hope” to replace a
“globalization of indifference.” This is a message that our nation, the most powerful in the
world, needs to hear.
As people of faith, we are not only inspired and challenged by the Pope’s words, we
recognize the Pope is calling us to act.
What You Can Do
In the lead up to his visit to the United States, religious leaders, social justice advocates and
people from all walks of life will come together to build on the tremendous energy Pope Francis
has created for deep and lasting cultural change. We’re hoping to see events happen in 100
cities across the country.
Issues of economic dignity, comprehensive immigration reform, mass incarceration, extreme
poverty and inequality are not abstract or simply political. These are fundamental moral issues,
deeply rooted in the Gospel and other faith traditions that impact real people, and strike at the
heart of what kind of country we want to build today and for future generations. “Everything is
connected,” Pope Francis says in his recent encyclical, a reminder that building strong
communities and just public policies require an awareness of how issues are interconnected
and central to the common good.
Major Events of the Papal Visit
Tues Sept 22nd Pope Francis arrives in the US
rd
Weds Sept 23 Meetings in Washington, DC
Thurs Sept 24th Address to Congress (morning)
Major Events of the Papal Visit (continued)
Fri Sept 25th Address to the United Nations in New York (morning)
Visit and multi-religious service at the 9/11 memorial (mid-day)
Public mass at Madison Square Garden
th
Sat Sept 26 Public mass in Philadelphia (mid-morning)
Visit to the Festival of Families (evening)
th
Sun Sept 27 Mass at conclusion of the World Meeting of Families (afternoon)
Departure for Rome
Host an event in your community
One of the best ways to draw attention to the messages of Pope Francis is to join with others
in organizing an event in your community. Below are a few ideas, but please feel free to find
creative and unique ways to most appropriately tailor events and actions to fit your community.
➢ Host a “Welcome Pope Francis Meeting” in your home, church or community
center. Inviting your friends and neighbors to a ‘welcome meeting’ is a great way to
bring people together to talk about the Pope’s visit and what it means for our
community.
➢ Convene a public forum with faith and labor leaders (held at a local church, university,
etc.) to discuss how the Pope’s powerful words about saying “no to an economy of
exclusion and inequality” will impact local debates over immigration reform, living
wages, unemployment and social support for struggling families.
➢ Sponsor a Day of Fasting and Atonement to draw attention to how those who are
excluded and on the margins hunger for justice. This could include prominent faith and
civic leaders in your area to help draw media attention.
➢ Or, we encourage you to come up with your own!
Questions? Just email help@InThisTogether.org or call (267) 841-POPE.!
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Sample Prayer CardQuotes from Pope Francis
Americans of all backgrounds are listening closely to a Pope who puts human dignity and the common
good before a profit-first mentality. Here’s a sample of his teachings on these topics.
“A good Catholic meddles in politics." (9/16/13)
“A just economy must create the conditions for everyone to be able to enjoy a childhood without want, to develop
their talents when young, to work with full rights during their active years and to enjoy a dignified retirement as
they grow older.” (7/9/2015)
“Poverty in the world is a scandal. In a world where there is so much wealth, so many resources to feed everyone,
it is unfathomable that there are so many hungry children, that there are so many children without an education,
so many poor persons. Poverty today is a cry.” (6/7/13)
"Unemployment -- the lack or loss of work -- is a phenomenon that is spreading like an oil slick in vast areas of the
west and is alarmingly widening the boundaries of poverty. Moreover there is no worse material poverty, I am
keen to stress, than the poverty which prevents people from earning their bread and deprives them of the dignity
of work." (5/25/13)
“May we never get used to the poverty and decay around us. A Christian must act.” (4/3/14)
“The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love.” (6/2/13)
“Inequality is the root of social evil.” (4/28/14)
“A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap
between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table, but above all to
satisfy the demands of justice, fairness and respect for every human being.” (6/20/13)
"How I would like a church that is poor and for the poor." (3/16/13)
“How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when
the stock market loses two points? This is a case of exclusion.” (11/23/13)
“Just as the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life,
today we also have to say ‘thou shalt not’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills.”
(11/23/13)
“I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men
and women of goodwill: let us be ‘protectors’ of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of
one another and of the environment.” (3/19/13)Quotes from Pope Francis, continued: “Every worker, be he or not in the formal system of salaried work, has the right to fitting remuneration, to social security and to retirement coverage. Here there are...workers in popular jobs who are excluded from labor rights, who are denied the possibility of joining labor unions, who have no adequate and stable income. Today I want to join my voice to yours and support you in your struggle.” (10/28/14) “Solidarity with migrants and refugees must be accompanied by the courage and creativity necessary to develop, on a worldwide level, a more just and equitable financial and economic order, as well as an increasing commitment to peace, the indispensable condition for all authentic progress.” (9/3/14) “Please, let us fight for this: the justice of work.” (3/25/15) “Dear friends, let us not forget the flesh of Christ which is in the flesh of refugees: their flesh is the flesh of Christ. It is also your task to direct all the institutions working in the area of forced migration to new forms of co- responsibility.” (5/24/13) “I would like to ask you all to see a ray of hope as well in the eyes and hearts of refugees and of those who have been forcibly displaced. A hope that is expressed in expectations for the future, in the desire for friendship, in the wish to participate in the host society also through learning the language, access to employment and the education of children...We can and must all nourish this hope!” (5/24/13) "The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth. In many parts of the planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful landscapes are now covered with rubbish." (6/18/15) "We are not God. The Earth was here before us and was given to us." (6/18/15) "The idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers and experts in technology...is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth's goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry at every limit." (6/18/15) "Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start." (6/18/15) “Human beings are themselves considered consumer goods to be used and then discarded. We have created a ‘throw away’ culture which is now spreading.” (11/23/13) “We do not get dignity from power or money or culture. We get dignity from work.” (5/1/13) “Not paying a just [wage], not providing work, focusing exclusively on the balance books, on financial statements, only looking at making personal profit. That goes against God!” (5/1/13) “The future of humanity does not lie solely in the hands of great leaders, the great powers and the elites. It is fundamentally in the hands of peoples and in their ability to organize. It is in their hands, which can guide with humility and conviction this process of change. I am with you.” (7/9/15) “Do we realize that something is wrong in a world where there are so many farm workers without land, so many families without a home, so many laborers without rights, so many persons whose dignity is not respected? …So let’s not be afraid to say it: we need change; we want change.” (7/9/15)
Hosting a
“Welcome Pope Francis Meeting”
Why host a meeting in your home or at your church?
Pope Francis truly is a pope for everyone. Through his teachings and his deeds, he’s inspiring
people to put aside their differences and to work together for the common good, especially
around poverty, immigration and care for creation.
Hosting a “welcome meeting” with your friends and neighbors is a great way to bring people
together to talk about the Pope’s visit and what it means for our communities.
How to make your Welcome Meeting a great event:
● Pick a date when you can comfortably host, and when people are available to attend. See if
your church or faith community wants to help.
● Who do you want to attend the event? Family, friends, neighbors or people from your
congregation? Make a list on the back of this page so you can be sure to invite them, and
track how many say they will join you to welcome Pope Francis.
● What info do they need to know? Be sure to share the date, time and location of your
event, plus directions if needed.
● Start early. Send invitations at least one week before the meeting so that you have time to
follow up.
● How can you get the word out? Facebook or email alone won’t do – make sure you invite
people in the way they’re most likely to respond, and don’t be afraid to ask more than once!
● Don’t forget to do reminder calls the day before your meeting so no one forgets about it!
Questions? Email help@InThisTogether.org or call (267) 841-POPE.Invite Tracker
for “Welcome Meeting” Hosts
Invite
Invitee name Phone / email RSVP Notes
methodsSample schedule for a
“Welcome Pope Francis Meeting”
Hosting a “welcome meeting” with your friends and neighbors is a great way to bring people
together to talk about the Pope’s visit and what it means for our communities.
Here’s a sample schedule that you can use to plan your own welcome meeting, but feel free to
adjust it to fit your needs.
7:00 pm Welcome everyone and introduce yourself
Start with a simple prayer or reflection (like the prayer card)
Pass around a sign-in sheet so you’ll have contact info for follow-ups
7:05 – 7:15 pm INTRODUCTIONS:
Ask each person to share their name and why they decided to come (if
you have a big group ask people to keep it short).
7:15 pm Quick overview of the schedule
7:20 pm VIDEO:
Play “The Francis Effect” – a 5-minute video found at:
www.InThisTogether.org
7:25 pm Allow people to share reflections on the video
7:30 pm STORIES:
Ask everyone: How has Pope Francis inspired you? What kind of change
do you want to see?
7:45 pm ACTION:
Ask everyone: How can we work together using Francis’ example and
inspiration to make a difference? Read the list of suggested actions and
decide on 2 or 3 actions to work on together.
8:15 pm Thank everyone for coming. If you want, close with a prayer or share
some refreshments.
Questions? Just email help@InThisTogether.org or call (267) 841-POPE.!
!
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Trainings can help make
your event successful
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To help make every event as meaningful and impactful as possible, we’re offering a series of
online trainings. Even if you don’t have a computer you can still participate by phone.
Training Webinars and Conference calls
Thursday, August 27 at 2:30 PM EDT
Wednesday, September 2 at 7:00 PM EDT
Thursday, September 3rd at 6:00 p.m. EDT (en español / in spanish)
Tuesday, September 8 at 2:30 PM EDT
Saturday, September 12 at 1:00 PM EDT
To sign up for any of these trainings, email help@InThisTogether.org or call (267) 841-POPE.
Each training will have two parts:
Part 1 – How to host a “Welcome Meeting”
If you’re excited about hosting an event, but not sure where to start, we can help. We’ll run
through tips for moderating a successful event, how to draft an invite list and other ways
promote your event.
Part 2 – Media training
How can you get reporters to cover your events? What will you say when reporters show up?
We’ll cover the basics and answer your questions.
Need more help?
Still have questions? Just email help@InThisTogether.org or call (267) 841-POPE,
and we’ll help you figure out how to set up a meaningful event.!
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What comes next?
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Seize the moment! Post pictures from your event on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, tag the
people who joined in (with their permission, of course!) and add the hashtag #WelcomeFrancis or
#InThisTogether.!
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Making the change that Pope Francis is calling for depends on all of us. Build on your event by
getting attendees to join you in committing to do two or more of these follow-up actions:!
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● Host a watch party on Thursday, September 24th to watch the Pope’s address to Congress
and discuss it with friends and neighbors.!
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● Organize an event in your faith community to talk about how people of every religion – or
no religion! – can take inspiration from the Pope’s message.!
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● Contact your legislators and tell them you agree with Pope Francis that we need to think
and act in terms of community and shared responsibility. A letter, phone call, email or in-
person meeting can make a big difference.!
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● Write a letter to your local newspaper telling them what you find most meaningful in the
Pope’s message, and the impact you hope he has.!
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● Coordinate a public procession to highlight the ways that our broken immigration and
justice systems can tear apart families and communities.!
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● Host a Mass or religious service with a focus on workers’ rights near or on Labor Day
that includes a homily that draws from Pope Francis’ statements. At the back of the church
and other venues, give attendees opportunities to become engaged with advocacy. !
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● Sponsor a Day of Fasting and Atonement to draw attention to how people who are
excluded and on the margins hunger for justice. Invite prominent faith and civic leaders in
your area to help draw media attention.!
!
● Organize and gather a group at a fast-food restaurant during the papal visit to bring
attention to the Pope’s message of worker’s rights and dignity for all and the need to fix
our dysfunctional immigration system so that all workers and all employers are on an
even playing field.!
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● Hold a Vigil during the Pope’s visit, reflecting and amplifying Francis’ call for justice
and dignity for all immigrants, highlighting the positive contributions they make to our
society and the need for comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship.!
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These are just a few ideas. Feel free to come up with your own.
Keep us informed about your plans by emailing help@InThisTogether.org!You can also read
