Pope Francis resonates with Bill Foster.
For one thing, the papal leader voices passion and conviction on some of the issues that most concern Foster, the Naperville Democrat representing part of the city and the rest of Illinois’ 11th Congressional District.
For another, the head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics is a chemist. That lends a sense of shared purpose for Foster, the only scientist currently serving in Congress. When the Pope speaks to a joint session of lawmakers Sept. 24, he said, the head count will double.
“This is an historic event,” Foster said, alluding to the first speech delivered before Congress by a papal head of state.
About 50 tickets will be given away enabling 11th District residents to be close by during the pope’s appearance that morning, through a lottery Foster announced in mid-August. The winners will have access to the west lawn adjacent to the U.S. Capitol, where an enormous video screen will display the pontiff’s comments live as he delivers his address inside. Entries are being taken on Foster’s House website through Monday. The winners, who must arrange their own transportation and lodgings, will be notified Tuesday.
“It’s just generated a huge amount of excitement,” said Foster, sitting down with a Naperville Sun reporter one morning last week in downtown Naperville.
The idea of giving out tickets isn’t new. Each year members of Congress are allotted tickets to the president’s State of the Union address that they can share, Foster noted.
Recent comments from Pope Francis that address climate change and wealth inequality show he is in touch with concerns shared by many, he said. The pope, coming to Congress at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, is scheduled to make an appearance on the Capitol steps after finishing his speech.
Alex Rich, Foster’s communications assistant, said entering the lottery drawing will not place respondents’ names on Foster’s emailed newsletter database.
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Foster isn’t the only member of Congress from Illinois sharing tickets to the address. Others, including 14th District Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, whose district includes a portion of Naperville, and 17th District Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, have announced drawings that are open to their constituents.
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