Today is the Day!!!! Welcome, Pope Francis!!!

It's here! It's here!!!! Pope Francis is coming today!!! If you can't tell, I'm really excited. 

Chilling at church with #flatfrancis while wearing my Vatican Flag outfit!

Today he travels from Cuba to Washington D.C.
Today marks his first (ever) visit to the U.S.A. 
Today he begins a visit that can change lives, move hearts, and rock our nation. 
Today reporters, the media, and individuals nationwide will be craning their necks and perking their ears up, waiting to hear him speak. 
Today it begins, and I want to say: Welcome!!!

Welcome, my dear Holy Father, Francis! Welcome, my beloved Pope! Welcome to the good ol' U.S.A. Today, I finish my nine-day novena to St. Francis of Assisi for you, and I will continue to lift  you up in prayer and sacrifices throughout your visit. I am so excited for all of the ways that God is working through you! 

Pope Francis has been truly the face of love and mercy on his visit so far. During Sunday Vespers in Cuba, he spoke off the cuff, instructing the people to "never tire of showing mercy to others." He met with both President Raul Castro and Fidel Castro. He unabashedly spoke to Cubans of the evils of abortion. Furthermore, Pope Francis spoke to people of God's love, mercy, and desire for us to unite ourselves to Him. 

"Jesus’ love goes before us, his look anticipates our needs.  He can see beyond appearances, beyond sin, beyond failures and unworthiness.  He sees beyond our rank in society. He sees beyond this, to our dignity as sons and daughters, a dignity at times sullied by sin, but one which endures in the depth of our soul.  He came precisely to seek out all those who feel unworthy of God, unworthy of others.  Let us allow Jesus to look at us.  Let us allow his gaze to run over our streets.  Let us allow that look to become our joy, our hope."~from the pope's prepared homily for Monday, September 21, 2015. 

Friends, Pope Francis  has been on fire with God's love and mercy! Let us read his messages to Cubans with open hearts, and pray for him as he prepares to encounter those in the U.S.A. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!