WASHINGTON -- House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is a Catholic who has dreamed for years of having a pope address Congress. But when he finally got the pontiff to Capitol Hill Thursday and had a chance to chat with the leader of the church, the public conversation wasn't exactly celestial.
Boehner had wondered publicly the day before about what he'd say. In the end, he and the pope talked about neckties.
Boehner invited the previous two popes to Capitol Hill, and finally got a taker in Pope Francis. The speaker made the most of it, running a blog and having cameras set up to capture every moment.
Those cameras showed the Ohioan pacing nervously as he waited in his formal office, tugging at his suit buttons and repeatedly adjusting his green tie.
After telling Francis how very glad he was the pontiff could come, Boehner sat down with the Pope for their photo op. And explained his tie.
Boehner said he had wanted to wear an older ceremonial blue tie "with the little hands on it," but his staff wouldn't let him.
"My staff insisted I wear the green tie," Boehner said.
A member of the pope's entourage said the staff chose well. And through his interpreter, the pontiff himself found a way to elevate the mundane moment a bit.
"The tie is the color of hope," he said.
"We need a lot of hope today," Boehner answered.
The two presumably talked a little more seriously after the press was ushered out, and before Boehner and the pope headed to the House floor.