Local catholics say they feel overjoyed that the pope is visiting the u-s for the first time since the last pope's visit in 2008.
Pope Francis continues to be the talk of the nation as he makes his American trip on the east coast.
"He's captured the hearts of many, not just catholics. I think he's doing a pretty good job," said Tania Burgos, who is part of the choir at San Clemente Mission Parish.
On Thursday, Pope Francis spoke to congress and covered several issues in the U.S., including immigration.
During his speech, the Pope asked congress to embrace immigrants and to remember the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
"We need to avoid a common temptation nowadays: To discard whatever proves troublesome," said the Pope.
Here in Bakersfield, parishioners said they're glad the pope is talking about issues that hit close to home.
Guadalupe Cano said, "Immigrants. We come from around the world. The united states focuses on south America, though. I just think it's great that he's stressing the importance of it."
Patricia Valadez/ said, "I have a lot of faith that he is going to make a big change with his visit here."
According to a University of Southern California research brief, there are 68,000 undocumented Californians in Kern County.
Locals said, despite the distance, he feel the pope is standing up for Latinos here.
"Hopefully, as he mentioned in his speech, god blesses America and that this visit results in great change for the United States, for the better. And that immigrants can have, as he says, political justice, humanitarian justice, in which we can all live with equality and that there will be no segregation like there is now."
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