WASHINGTON — Very, very few people will get the chance to speak to Pope Francis during his short visit to D.C. Some of them are the hardest-hit in the D.C. area.
Father John Enzler says he could not be more excited to welcome His Holiness to Catholic Charities on Thursday afternoon, near the end of his stay. The pope arrives in D.C. at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22 and leaves 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.
“He’s leaving the powerful people on the Hill to be with the powerful people of the streets,” Enzler says.
After he addresses a joint meeting of Congress, the pontiff will have lunch among the homeless who get a hot meal on G Street each week.
“It’s a very simple meal. That’s what the pope would want. It’s our normal simple meal we have on Wednesday nights,” Enzler says.
They moved the meal up given the pope’s DC schedule. On the menu: pasta and fresh vegetables.
Catholic Charities plans to ask a regular volunteer to share a surprise with the pope — a book filled with area Walk with Francis service pledges. About 600 people took the pledge — a call to do a good community deed, no matter your faith.
“She is a woman with Down syndrome, but very articulate and very special to all of us here,” Enzler says of the volunteer.
