Pope offers encouragement to immigrants in Philadelphia speech
'Never be ashamed', Francis tells them in address in Philadelphia, while condemning abuse of religious freedom to promote hatred and brutality
Pope Francis, speaking in America's birthplace, offered stout words of support to Hispanic and other immigrants in the United States, telling them not to be discouraged at a time when some prominent politicians are directing hostility toward them.
A day before wrapping up his first US visit, the 78-year-old Argentine pontiff also used his trip to Philadelphia on Saturday to promote religious freedom as a fundamental right but condemned the use of religion as a pretext for hatred and brutality.
Francis toured Philadelphia's Independence Hall before addressing a crowd estimated at more than 40,000 outside the 18th-century red-brick building where basic American liberties were proclaimed and independence from Britain was declared.
"Do not be discouraged by whatever challenges and hardships you face," the pope told the many Hispanics and other recent immigrants to the United States in the crowd, adding that he felt "particular affection" towards them.
The leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics urged Americans in a historic speech to Congress on Thursday to reject "a mindset of hostility" towards immigrants. He expanded on that issue in his Philadelphia speech, delivered in Spanish.
Francis said immigrants "bring many gifts" to their new nation.