Rep. Dan Lipinski: To Rome for Pope Francis investiture

WASHINGTON–Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) was tapped by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to be part of a congressional delegation flying to Rome for the investiture of Pope Francis next week.

Vice President Joe Biden will lead the U.S. presidential delegation to Rome for the Inaugural mass for Pope Francis on Tuesday.

Others in the Biden delegation to honor the world’s first Hispanic pope–with Italian roots– include New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez; House Democratic Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia. President Barack Obama had asked Boehner to be part of the presidential delegation and he declined.

“The installation of Pope Francis, the first Holy Father ever to hail from the Americas, is a milestone in world history and an event of monumental significance to the millions of Americans who share in the Catholic faith,” Boehner said in a statement.

The House delegation to the Vatican will also include, besides Lipinski, Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Jim Langevin (D-RI), and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) and Father Patrick Conroy, S.J., the chaplain of the House of Representatives.

Boehner’s office said, “the House delegation will fly to Rome on commercial air flights, in compliance with the Speaker’s directive that Member use of military air transportation be suspended with sequestration in effect.”