Pope Francis tours North America
Pope Francis began a trip to Cuba and North America on Sept. 19, 2015. On Sept. 22, the Holy See landed in the American capitol, Washington, D.C. Stopping to meet with President Obama, and speak to Congress, Pope Francis later traveled to New York, before concluding his journey in Philadelphia.
While in Washington and New York, the Pontiff urged lawmakers to reconsider their views on the environment, as well as immigration.
“Building a nation calls us to recognize that we must constantly relate to others, rejecting a mindset of hostility,” said Pope Francis when addressing Congress.
When discussing his views on immigration, and referencing America’s connection with Latin America, Pope Francis encouraged lawmakers to approach a different, more inviting perspective.
“We must not be taken aback by [migrant] 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,” said Pope Francis. “To respond in a way which is always humane, just, and fraternal.”
In New York, Pope Francis addressed the United Nations General Assembly, before heading to Philadelphia for a final mass.
Mecca stampede kills over 700, injures almost 1,000
A stampede caused by unknown sources occurred in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, during the morning of Sept. 24, 2015. The event claimed the lives of at least 769, while injuring 934 others.
“I saw someone trip over someone in a wheelchair and several people tripping over him” said Abdullah Lotfy, an Egyptian citizen, in an interview with the CBC. “It was like a wave. You go forward and suddenly you go back.”
Several witnesses at the scene suggested that the stampede was caused by one group of worshipers heading in one direction colliding with another group heading in another direction. The stampede occurred during the third day of Hajj—a Pillar of Islam that requires all able-bodied Muslims to endure a pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest site, the Masjid al-Haram. This year’s Hajj began on Sept. 21, 2015 and is expected to host an estimated 1.9 million Muslims.