Washington is in desperate need of a papal intervention

From the appallingly inadequate response to the global refugee crisis to the alarmingly divisive rhetoric by politicians who use hateful speech to whip up support for their campaigns, American politicians need a dose of the “Francis effect” to guide their way back to a place of moral leadership. During his visit, Pope Francis will address Congress on Thursday. Let’s hope that his custom of speaking truth to power carries over to the halls of the U.S. Capitol, where it can provide a moment for all Americans to come together and fulfill the country’s promise of being the refuge of hope and freedom for the world community.

Because so far, we are lost sheep in the desert.

The world is facing a moral crisis as 60 million people flee war, rape, murder and the devastation of natural disasters. We see the crisis in the 4 million Syrian refugees seeking protection in Europe and the Middle East. We see it in the families and children fleeing violence in Central America.

{mosads}Yet the powerful moral voice of the strongest country in the world has barely risen above a whisper. Under increasing pressure to demonstrate that the United States is joining Europe’s efforts, President Obama announced that the U.S. will increase by 2,000 the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the country in 2016, for a total of 10,000 people. The number pales in comparison to the dire need of these helpless families that now live in limbo.

Families that have made desperate choices to reach safety, not unlike the thousands of mothers and children from Central America who fled their countries, arriving on our shores in a desperate attempt to save their lives. Rather than finding refuge here, our government has confined thousands of these families to detention centers around the country. The criminalization and detention of these families, many of whom seek asylum and refuge, is a moral stain on our nation and exacerbates the trauma the families have already experienced. The Francis effect will hopefully compel officials to do what is morally right: release the children and families still held in these facilities. Francis has already stepped up and spoken out about the refugee crisis, extorting Christians to help. “Facing the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees — fleeing death by war and famine, and journeying towards the hope of life — the Gospel calls, asking of us to be close to the smallest and forsaken. To give them a concrete hope,” he said. “And not just to tell them: ‘Have courage, be patient!'”

So far, America is not listening. Our politics is one of the reasons why.

Our political leaders have lost their moral compass, appealing to hate and resentment in their hunger for political gain. Politicians have elevated their campaigns by exploiting the “us vs. them” mentality of people who resent the changing face of America. Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson tapped into the anger of those who feel their way of life is under threat when he said he couldn’t support a Muslim for president. He has since backtracked on those comments.

Donald Trump (R) is the true master of manipulating the bitterness and animosity of supporters. Since starting his presidential bid, he has chosen communities of color as the scapegoat for people’s frustrations. Most recently, he mocked fellow candidate Jeb Bush (R), former governor of Florida, for saying illegal immigration is an “act of love.” Yet Bush’s words are one of the most honest and humane comments about the issue uttered by a politician on the left or right.

There is no end in sight. Consider a recent Trump town hall event in which a supporter spouted anti-Muslim conspiracy theories, which included a debunked allegation that President Obama is Muslim. Trump never corrected the supporter nor called him out on his anti-Muslim comments. Contrast that with former Republican nominee John McCain in 2008 when he took the microphone away from a supporter who said: “I don’t trust Obama. I’ve read about him, and he’s an Arab.” McCain replied: “No, ma’am, no ma’am. He’s a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That’s what this campaign is all about. He’s not, thank you.” That was tough talk then from a politician who stood up to what was right, even when it meant standing up to supporters. That’s what true leadership calls for.

The recent acts, the words and the hate-filled agenda that these politicians are viciously pursuing are not without consequences, and already we have been witness to violent incidents spurred by the rhetoric of these leaders. The Francis effect would reverse all of this.

Today, let’s hope that Pope Francis offers Congress his usual dose of tough love and that we heed his words. Only then can America live up to its potential as a moral and spiritual authority in the world.

Matos is director of Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice at the Center for Community Change.