Immigration Reform Supporters Pray for Miracle from Boehner

A group of religious leaders who are proponents of immigration reform say it would take a miracle to get the House to vote on an immigration bill and are praying House Speaker John Boehner was inspired enough by Pope Francis to make it happen, NBC News reported.

Sure it's a long shot, but Boehner's leaving anyway, so what is there to lose, say those offering up prayer for the fall miracle.

Boehner, R-Ohio, made a surprise announcement Friday that he plans to retire at the end of next month. His news came the day after Pope Francis met with Boehner and made a plea on behalf of immigrants in a speech to Congress.

In his speech, the pope implored Congress and others to view immigrants as persons, see their faces and listen to their stories and to treat them with humanity. He invoked the Golden Rule.

"We need to avoid a common temptation nowadays: to discard whatever proves troublesome," he said.

Boehner, a Catholic, was seen teary-eyed during the pope's public appearances and later acknowledged the emotional impact the pontiff's visit had on him.

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