Pope Francis’ first official tour through the United States has been marked by understated gestures rather than bold proclamations on hot-button issues.
A day before his address to Congress which was peppered with what was describe by some analysts as “code” for very conservative issue positions, Francis made an unscheduled visit to the convent next door to the Basilica at which he had celebrated a public mass.
That convent is home to the Little Sisters of the Poor, the order of nuns that is suing the Obama administration for the HHS mandate that requires them to purchase health coverage that includes contraception.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi declared unequivocally that the meeting was an obvious “sign of support” by the pontiff for the plight of Sisters, which many believe to be a telegraph of his opposition to Obamacare.
