Obama: ‘Perhaps the Visit by the’ Pope Will Prompt GOP To Fund Planned Parenthood

BARACK OBAMA: “We’ll continue to have significant fights around issues like Planned Parenthood and significant fights around issues like immigration but perhaps the visit by the Holy Father to Congress may have changed hearts and minds.

"I know that Speaker Boehner was deeply moved by his encounter with Pope Francis. I want to congratulate him, by the way, on facilitating that historic visit. I know it meant a lot to John and his family. And I would just ask members to really reflect on what his holiness said, not in the particulars, but in the general problem  that we should be open to each other, we should not demonize each other, we should not assume that we have a monopoly on the truth or on what’s right, that we listen to each other and show each other respect and that we show regard for the most vulnerable in our society. It’s not a particularly political message but I think it’s a good one at a moment when in our politics so often the only way you get on the news is if you’re really rude or you say really obnoxious things to people or you — other people’s point of views are demonic and evil and leave no room at all for the possibilities of compromise.

"I’d like to think that that spirit will continue to permeate Washington for some time to come and I know that in his heart that’s who John Boehner was. It was sometimes hard to execute but as I said, he was a good man and a reasonable man and he’s going to be around for a while. And I hope that we can get things done before he steps down.”