Today, Pope Francis became the first pope ever to speak to a joint meeting of Congress.

The pontiff discussed key issues like immigration, the death penalty, and poverty. And he did not disappoint, according to Acadiana residents.

“It was very bold but I congratulate him because it needed to be addressed,” Ashley Conway told KLFY’s Kellie Brown.

Pope Francis urged an audience of some of the most powerful people in the U.S. not to forget the least powerful, like immigrants and refugees.

Art Garrett is  a co-owner of Acadian Religious and Gift Shop, a primarily Catholic gift shop. He said the pontiff’s speech was on point.

“As a religious leader in the church it’s his responsibility to speak on behalf of people that have no one to speak for them,” Garrett said.

The pontiff also hit on the importance of family and abolishing the death penalty worldwide.

“When he addressed the death penalty issue that’s something that’s important and no one can say that it is political because that’s who we are as Catholics, ” Garrett said.

After today’s speech the pope skipped lunch at the White House opting to instead have lunch at Catholic Charities with about 200 hundred of the city’s homeless.