Cohen Welcomes Memphis Winners of Lottery for Tickets to See Pope Francis to Capitol Hill

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Following his lottery to select winners to watch today’s address by His Holiness Pope Francis to a Joint Session of Congress on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today welcomed dozens of Memphis winners to Capitol Hill for this historic event. Today’s speech was the first-ever such address to Congress by a Pope and provided the Memphians attending the opportunity to see the Pope in person as he appeared on the Capitol’s west balcony.

“Pope Francis is an inspiring and uniting figure whose work has helped countless people around the world,” said Congressman Cohen. “I was pleased to provide these Memphians with the chance to see His Holiness in person as he became the first Pope in history to address the U.S. Congress. I hope everyone enjoyed the opportunity to be part of this historic day in our nation’s history.”

Each Member of Congress was allocated a small number of standing room only tickets to watch the Pope's speech to a Joint Session of Congress from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Congressman Cohen earlier this month decided to offer his tickets to the constituents of the Ninth Congressional District via a lottery. Lottery winners paid their own way to Washington and found their own accommodations.