Pope Francis, I'd like you to meet a pro-choice nun, a gay bishop and a transgender woman - the very eclectic guests at White House reception next week

  • President Obama has assembled several opponents of Catholic teaching for Francis' first White House visit next week
  • Francis is known for his tolerance, but it may be tested 
  • Pope is at the White House on Wednesday, addresses Congress on Thursday

By J. Taylor Rushing, U.s. Political Reporter For Dailymail.com

Published: 10:12 EST, 17 September 2015 | Updated: 15:18 EST, 17 September 2015

Pope Francis's first visit to the White House next week is shaping up to be a doozy, as President Obama has arranged for several opponents of traditional Catholic teaching to be among those greeting the pontiff.

Francis is known for his tolerance, having urged Catholics against condemning those with non-traditional lifestyles such as homosexuals and pro-choice advocates.

But this may test even Francis's famous papal patience.

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Seventy-eight-year-old Pope Francis - pictured here at Vatican City on Thursday - will visit New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. next week on his inaugural trip to America

Seventy-eight-year-old Pope Francis - pictured here at Vatican City on Thursday - will visit New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. next week on his inaugural trip to America

Francis has become well-known for a softer approach to thorny social issues facing the Catholic church

Francis has become well-known for a softer approach to thorny social issues facing the Catholic church

The list of guests at a reception for the pontiff include a pro-choice nun, a transgender woman and an openly gay Episcopal bishop -- plus multiple gay activists who identify as Catholics, according to Breitbart.

Since becoming pope in 2013, Francis has walked a fine line between maintaining the Catholic Church's traditional views opposing homosexuality and abortion and promoting celibacy for priests.

But in small but significant ways, he has also made headlines by avoiding judgment of such people worldwide, and urging Catholics to do the same. 

He has also embraced non-traditional causes for a pontiff, such as anti-consumerism, income inequality and climate change.

The invitees next week include retired Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson, who is considered the first openly gay Episcopal bishop - who also divorced his partner last year after previously divorcing his wife.

President Obama and Pope Francis last met in a private visit at the Vatican in March 2014, but this time around the pontiff will be on US soil at the White House

President Obama and Pope Francis last met in a private visit at the Vatican in March 2014, but this time around the pontiff will be on US soil at the White House

Obama is planning to extend some unusual courtesies to Francis, such as a plane-side greeting by himself and First Lady Michelle Obama. Francis will address Congress the day after his White House visit

Obama is planning to extend some unusual courtesies to Francis, such as a plane-side greeting by himself and First Lady Michelle Obama. Francis will address Congress the day after his White House visit

Robinson is a frequent attendee of Obama administration events, however, such as a role in the the National Prayer Breakfast last year.

Francis has endorsed the Catholic church principle that homosexuality is 'intrinsically immoral,' but has also avoided judgment of it - so much so that the pro-LGBT American magazine The Advocate named him its 'Person Of The Year' in 2013.

At a press conference on 28 July 2013, when discussing homosexuality, Francis said, 'If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?'

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told DailyMail.com that he had not seen the Breitbart report and did not know who had been invited to the event.

‘We'll have more information on the guest list, once I can actually confirm for myself who's on it,’ Earnest said during his daily briefing. 

The pope's nine-day foreign tour -- his 10th trip overseas but his first to Cuba and the U.S. - starts in Havana on Saturday, where he will meet former president Fidel Castro and current president Raul Castro sometime over the weekend.

On Tuesday, Francis travels to Washington, D.C., where he will meet President Obama at Andrews Air Force Base. An official White House visit will follow on Wednesday, and an address to Congress comes on Thursday.

On Friday the pontiff travels to New York where he will pray at Ground Zero - the site of the September 11 2001 World Trade Center terror attacks and visit the 9/11 museum.

A speech at the United Nations in New York and a Mass in Madison Square Garden are also scheduled.

On Saturday and Sunday, the 26th and 27th, the pope delivers two Masses in Philadelphia before returning to Rome. 

The transgender attendee who has been invited to meet the pope at the White House, Mateo Williamson, is a former co-leader of Dignity USA Transgender Caucus.

This again could cause a rub - just a few weeks ago, Francis officially endorsed a Vatican stance against allowing transgender people from being baptismal godparents.

The pro-choice nun invited to the White House is Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, a 44-year-old national social justice lobbying group

The White House even used a transgender man to collect and transmit the papal invitations - Vivian Taylor, former leader of the social activism group Integrity USA.

POPE IN AMERICA: WHERE THE PONTIFF WILL BE DURING FIVE-DAY TOUR

Pope Francis has never been to the United States and will arrive from Cuba at Andrews Air Force Base, near Washington on Tuesday 22 September.

WEDNESDAY - WASHINGTON DC

9.15 am Welcome ceremony and meeting with President Obama at the White House

11.00 am Papal Parade along the Ellipse and the National Mall (time approximate)

11.30 am Midday Prayer with the bishops of the United States, St. Matthew's Cathedral

4.15 pm Mass of Canonization of Junipero Serra, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

THURSDAY - WASHINGTON DC AND NEW YORK

9.20 am Address to Joint Meeting of the United States Congress

11.15 am Visit to St. Patrick in the City and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington

4.00 pm Depart from Joint Base Andrews

5.00 pm Arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport

6.45 pm Evening Prayer (Vespers) at St. Patrick's Cathedral

FRIDAY - NEW YORK  

8.30 am Visit to the United Nations and address to the United Nations General Assembly

11.30 am Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center

4.00 pm Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School, East Harlem

5.00 pm Procession through Central Park (time approximate)

6.00 pm Mass at Madison Square Garden

SATURDAY - NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA 

8.40 am Departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport

9.30 am Arrival at Atlantic Aviation, Philadelphia

10.30 am Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia

4.45 pm Visit to Independence Mall

7.30 pm Visit to the Festival of Families Benjamin Franklin Parkway

SUNDAY - PHILADELPHIA

9.15 am Meeting with bishops at St. Martin's Chapel, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

11.00 am Visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility

4.00 pm Mass for the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway

7.00 pm Visit with organizers, volunteers and benefactors of the World Meeting of Families, Atlantic Aviation

8.00 pm Departure for Rome

 

 

 

 

 

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