He even said, God bless America
Pope Francis' historic first papal address to Congress Thursday underscored the fundamental, if sometimes controversial role of religion in American political life. (Scroll down for video of those remarks.)
So deep is religion embedded that United States currency carries God's name and most political speeches, including the pope's to the country's federally-elected representatives, end with "God bless America."
But what about the religions of presidents? What faiths colored their policies and views of the world, the country, right and wrong?
Barack Obama has declared himself a Christian, like almost all previous chief executives. He has not specified a denomination, although for two decades he said he attended Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ headed by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Obama's sporadic attendance at Sunday services during his presidency provides little indication of any denominational leaning, and the same with his frequent official statements marking the holidays of diverse religionsfrom Islam to Sikhism.
Although only two percent of Americans claim membership, the most dominant denomination of U.S. presidents is Episcopalian, the North American spin-off of the Anglican Church of England, which Thomas Jefferson attended.
The nation's largest single religious denomination, Roman Catholics at 22%, have provided only two major presidential nominees, both Democrats. One won (John F. Kennedy) in 1960. One lost (Al Smith) in 1928.
George Washington, James Monroe, James Madison, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, among others, were all professed Episcopalians. William McKinley, George W. Bush and, at the last minute, James Polk were Methodists.
No Jewish chief executive yet. But the country has had two Dutch Reform presidents -- Martin Van Buren and Theodore Roosevelt.
James Garfield, Lyndon Johnson and Calvin Coolidge were Congregationalists. Warren Harding was the first Baptist president followed by Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.
Presbyterian presidents began with Andrew Jackson and included James Buchanan, Benjamin Harrison, Woodrow Wilson and Grover Cleveland, the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. In more modern times, Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan were also Presbyterians.
Four presidents were not identified with any particular denomination -- Ulysses Grant, Andrew Johnson, Rutherford Hayes and Abraham Lincoln. Although the sixteenth president's eloquent public remarks routinely referred to the deity, contemporary accounts are conflicting about the religious faith of Lincoln, who was assassinated on Good Friday.
Finally, the United States has had two Quakers as commander-in-chief. Can you guess who they were? Hint: Both served in the 20th century.
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