The Pope, the Speaker, and the Day Congress Changed Forever

When Pope Francis spoke to Congress back in September 2015, it was already a historic moment. But no one could have predicted the real fireworks would light up the next day.

Pope Francis became the first pontiff to address a Joint Meeting of Congress, filling the House chamber with reverence, applause, and, for Speaker John Boehner, quite a few tears. As the Holy Father urged lawmakers to treat each other with dignity and to remember the Golden Rule, two Catholics—then Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker Boehner—sat right behind him, soaking in the moment.

The Capitol turned into a carefully choreographed stage, complete with green tape marking where political heavyweights like Pelosi and McConnell should stand for papal processions. Even a duct-taped "X" in Statuary Hall marked the spot for Pope Francis to bless the statue of Junipero Serra, the first American saint canonized on U.S. soil.

After the pope's blessing and a warm "Buenos dias" from the Speaker's Balcony, the crowd below erupted into chants, and Boehner, usually the tough guy in the room, was visibly moved. The two shared a private moment where the pope asked Boehner to pray for him—a request that left Boehner stunned and, honestly, a little speechless.

That night, Boehner quietly decided it was time to step down. The next morning, he told his chief of staff and wife, then shocked his fellow Republicans with the announcement. Boehner explained, "My first job as speaker is to protect the institution," and, fearing ongoing leadership drama, he chose to walk away. Little did he know, his exit would actually spark the very chaos he hoped to avoid.

The speaker's race that followed was a melodrama for the ages. Kevin McCarthy was next in line, but couldn't muster the votes, and Paul Ryan took the job only after some serious nudging. Ryan's tenure lasted until 2019, when Democrats reclaimed the House and Nancy Pelosi returned to the gavel—proving that in Congress, what goes around really does come around.

The Republican grip on the House got shakier over time, culminating in the famous 15-round slugfest that finally handed the speakership to McCarthy in 2023—only for him to get booted months later, courtesy of the same "motion to vacate the chair" that had haunted Boehner. After a proper parade of candidates, it was backbencher Mike Johnson who finally emerged to claim the gavel, and the institution has never quite recovered from that post-papal shakeup.

Every time the House struggles to choose a new speaker, folks joke about watching for "white smoke" from the Capitol Dome, just like at a papal conclave. The irony is hard to miss: Congress may not have cardinals in robes, but the drama is just as thick.

Pope Francis's 2015 visit fused religion and politics in a way that left a permanent mark on Capitol Hill. Boehner's tearful goodbye the day after the pope's address kicked off an era where the speakership is as shaky as ever—at least when Republicans are in charge. So, next time you see D.C. in suspense over a new speaker, just picture the Capitol as the Sistine Chapel, and keep your eyes peeled for that political "white smoke."