It has been a week since Pope Francis ended his 10-day visit to the United States and Cuba, but the head of the Roman Catholic Church left such a positive impact on Americans, including President Barack Obama, that the ripple effect of his visit is still being felt today.
"I think that when I spend time with somebody like the Pontiff... then it makes me want to be better, makes me want to do better," Obama said in a news conference on Friday. "That's part of the wonderful thing about Pope Francis, is the humility that he brings to do this."
According to PEOPLE, Obama was pretty impressed by Pope Francis' ability to reach out to a large audience, saying that the Roman Catholic head has the ability to "make us uncomfortable in his gentle way" while encouraging other people to spread kindness and understanding, no matter what a person's political affiliation might be.
"He's constantly prodding people's consciences and asking everybody all across the political spectrum what more you can do to be kind and to be helpful, and to love, and to sacrifice, and to serve," the president said. "I think he is speaking to all of our consciences, and we all have to then search ourselves to see if there are ways that we can do better."
Pope Francis spoke with various individuals and groups during his first visit to the United States, including Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis and victims of sexual abuse.
Before he left for Rome, the Pope left this message for Americans: "My days with you have been brief, but they have been days of great grace for me and, I pray, for you too. Please know that as I prepare to leave, I do so with a heart of full gratitude and hope."
"This land has been blessed with tremendous gifts and opportunities. I pray that you may all be good and generous stewards of the human and material resources entrusted to you," he added.
