Pope Francis Supports Both Liberal and Conservative Views During D.C. Visit

Pope Francis is visiting Washington, D.C. this week. His first visit to the U.S. began formally on Wednesday with an arrival ceremony at the White House and a personal meeting with President Barack Obama. 

During the ceremony, Obama commended Pope Francis for "shaking us out of complacency" and giving people confidence to pursue a world that is more loving, just, and free. He cited Francis's humility and generosity of spirit as a reason people are so excited about the visit -- not just the pope's role as head of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis delivered remarks in English, saying climate change is an urgent problem that "can no longer be left to a future generation." He praised Obama for focusing on the environment and the need to cut air pollution. Francis also called for safeguarding religious liberty and rejecting discrimination.

The pope toured the Ellipse and parts of the National Mall, and joined in mid-day prayer with about 300 U.S. bishops at Saint Matthew's Cathedral. 

While at the prayer service, Francis praised the bishops for their response to the clergy sex abuse crisis. He said they'd shown a "generous commitment to bring healing to victims." He praised them for having courage and acting "without fear of self-criticism." The clergy sex abuse scandal erupted in the U.S. in 2002 and turned into the biggest crisis in the history of the American church. Victims say the bishops still haven't fully accounted for sheltering abusers.

The pope also spoke out against abortion and against environmental devastation.

Watch the proceedings at the White House below:

Before leaving for the White House, the pope took time to greet schoolchildren outside the Vatican's diplomatic mission in Washington, where he spent the night.

Minutes before Pope Francis was to arrive at the White House, Obama tweeted a welcome message:

When the pope arrived on Tuesday, Obama went to greet him at a military airport in Maryland.

Later in the afternoon, around 4:15 pm, Pope Francis joins in Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

This report includes information from The Associated Press.