U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) issued the following statement after His Holiness Pope Francis of the Holy See’s address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Thursday morning, Sept. 24:

“It was my distinct honor to hear His Holiness Pope Francis address Congress. He spoke about the God-given ideals of our great nation, of personal and social responsibility, of how we as a people strive to make better lives for our families. His words transcend partisan politics and instead give each of us an opportunity to look Heavenward and reflect on our many blessings and opportunities.

“Today Congress stood in unison, not as Republicans or Democrats but as Americans. Politics, as the Pope noted, is ultimately about the service of the common good. It is about ensuring jobs, growth, and opportunities for our young people. It is about standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, while enabling all to have a voice. It is about protecting the rights of every man, woman and child so that we can dream together, work together and succeed together. It is about supporting, encouraging and protecting families. I am thankful to the Pope for his words today and pray that we can all bear them in mind as we live and work in our great country, the land of the free and home of the brave.”