It was Speaker John Boehner, a lifelong practicing Catholic, who invited Pope Francis to address a joint session of Congress during his visit to the United States. Thursday’s speech was a big deal for him. And since the speaker of the House is known to enjoy a good cry, it was expected that he would bawl. The poor fellow, clearly moved, convulsed his face in extraordinary ways as he tried to keep it together through the speech and afterward on the speaker’s balcony.

Boehner wept. #PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/0hqDEGMgJ6

— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) September 24, 2015

The pope is addressing congress. John Boehner is already crying. [Not Photoshopped] @MichaelBerrySho pic.twitter.com/PRtunwcAuM

— TexasTsunami (@TexasTsunami) September 24, 2015

Boehner. Crying. https://t.co/DqAQCsDk0W

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) September 24, 2015

I have on occasion made fun of Boehner for crying. But I was close to tears myself. “@stevenportnoy: #popeindc pic.twitter.com/HzmFLLFM4a”

— Dorothy Lucey (@DorothyLucey) September 24, 2015

Poor John Boehner can't stop crying. pic.twitter.com/IvmSzL6cjd

— Laura Evans (@lauraevansmedia) September 24, 2015

“@HowardMortman: pic.twitter.com/Fc0Kq2EMo0” Not gonna say a thing about Boehner crying b/c @donnabrazile & I were tearing up on @CNN set too.

— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) September 24, 2015

Dammit Boehner! Pull yourself together, man! @MichaelBerrySho @TwitchyTeam @MichelleMalkin pic.twitter.com/I0EBQoKsYd

— TexasTsunami (@TexasTsunami) September 24, 2015

Can't even hate on John Boehner for crying. I would probably cry too if I met @Pontifex #CatholicProblems pic.twitter.com/lCCgMqPzp1

— Isco (@isco__) September 24, 2015

Speaker Boehner can't stop crying... He needs a box of tissues...#PopeInDC pic.twitter.com/5ZuLK3f3xr

— Loni Love (@LoniLove) September 24, 2015

What a morning. Now it’s time for him to fund the government while somehow managing to keep his job! He’d better save some of those tears for later.

See more of Slate’s coverage of Pope Francis’ U.S. visit.

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