When Pope Francis visited D.C. in 2015
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Pope Francis arriving at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Photo: Mindy Schauer/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images
Pope Francis, who died Monday at age 88, last visited D.C. in 2015 during a six-day tour of the U.S.
Flashback: Washingtonians welcomed the pontiff at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, two-and-a-half years after he was elected at the Vatican.
- Former President Obama honored Francis at the White House.
He became the first pope to address a joint session of Congress.
- Francis, who was born in Argentina to Italian parents, used the opportunity to decry xenophobia.
- "We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners," he said in Congress.
The big picture: As the 266th pope, Francis upheld tradition while breaking norms, like wearing more informal, white garb and taking more progressive stances than his predecessors, Axios' Natalie Daher writes.
- His death sets off a search for new leadership. But first, there must be prayers, meetings and a highly secretive conclave.
Go deeper: How a new pope is chosen
