FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): It's history in the making as Pope Francis visits the US this week. 

Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend says his address of Congress Thursday is of key importance:

“Being the first Pope to speak to Congress is an historic event. I think he'll be calling us to follow our fundamental values, especially to reach out to those who are suffering. He'll also talk about Christians who are persecuted worldwide.”

Rhoades adds that while critics may call recent remarks made by Francis “anti-capitalist,” they're misappropriating his remarks:

“He said on the plane yesterday from Cuba to the US, that he's just teaching in line with the social teachings of the Church and previous Popes.”

Rhoades adds that he believes many commentators – on both sides of the political aisle – tend to use what the Pontiff says to further and promote their own agendas.

Meanwhile, a local man who publishes a national Catholic newspaper will also be seeing the Pope in-person this weekend. Greg Erlandson publishes “Our Sunday Visitor” in Huntington, but right now he's in Philadelphia prepping for a special week-long conference on the family that will feature a visit from the Pontiff Saturday:

“This is a meeting that takes place every three years, and this is also the first time it's been held in the United States. We've got about 18,000 from around the world attending.”

Pope Francis arrived in the U.S. yesterday; he'll address the United Nations on Friday.