As Pope Francis prepares for a historic address to Congress, West Virginia's senators are excited to hear from him, hoping for a spiritual, uplifting message, but say his push for global action on climate change won't change much in Washington.
Francis has made fighting climate change one of his top priorities, saying that its effects will be felt most profoundly by the world's poor.
His recent encyclical, a papal letter, calls for the progressive phasing out of fossil fuels "without delay" and the development of renewable energy.
He repeated that call during his first public remarks in the United States, at the White House on Wednesday.
"Climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation," Francis said. "When it comes to the care of our 'common home,' we are living at a critical moment in history."
Will Francis' emphasis on global warming change any minds during his address to a joint session of Congress - the first by a pope - this morning?
"I'm sure he'll be talking about that," said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. "No one should take any offense to it. Will it change anything? Absolutely not. I don't think it changes anybody's direction on what it is that needs to be done."
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., agreed.
"He's one of many voices on things of that nature," she said of the Pope. "I don't expect that he'll have a big impact on what direction we're going, one way or another, at this particular time, no.
"I'm sure there's things he's going to say that I won't agree with, but I'm certainly going to be listening and respectful."
With her ARENA Act, Capito has led the Republican fight in the Senate to stop President Obama's efforts on climate change. Manchin is the sole Democratic co-sponsor of that bill. Much of the national Republican Party rejects climate science and has no plans to act on climate change.
Both West Virginia senators said they were looking forward to hearing Francis' thoughts on how a powerful nation can help the less fortunate.
"How we can be leaders in helping the less powerful, whether it's poverty or health care or forgiveness or other things," Capito said. "He'd frame it, I'm sure, in terms of the teachings of the Bible."
Manchin, a Catholic, said he was hoping for and expecting a very spiritual message.
"Of the kindness that we all should have for humanity, no matter where you come from or what rung of life you're on," he said. "We're all human beings in this same world; there's 7 billion of us."
Manchin gently disputed Francis' contention that the costs of climate change will be felt most greatly by the poor.
"People that are living in poverty, basically it's energy that brings them out of poverty," Manchin said. "It's energy that's affordable, reliable and dependable that gives them opportunities to improve their lives. So it's a balance. I would think that he would be talking about a balance to be had."
Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., said he had not read Francis' encyclical, titled Laudato Si, "On Care for our Common Home."
"There's obviously a difference between teachings on faith and morals versus provincial judgment on political issues," Mooney, a Catholic, said. "I'm going to listen to what he has to say."
While saying he is "obviously pro-environment," Mooney rejects climate science.
"The climate changes up and down throughout the years. I'm not sure it's been determined yet by the scientists or agreed upon how much humans affect that, and what activities," he said.
The National Climate Assessment, a report released last year and written by more than 300 experts from 13 government agencies, states: "Observations unequivocally show that climate is changing and that the warming of the past 50 years is primarily due to human-induced emissions of heat-trapping gases."
The first eight months of 2015 have been, by far, the warmest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Each member of Congress is allowed to bring one guest to the pope's address.
Mooney is bringing a college friend, after bringing his mother to the White House for Francis' initial remarks on Wednesday.
Capito is bringing Charleston City Councilman Tom Lane, "a good friend and a good Catholic."
Manchin is bringing his wife, Gayle.
Washington city officials have been issuing dire warnings about potential traffic delays related to the pope's visit and the increased security.
Capito is able to walk to the Capitol from her apartment in Washington.
Manchin would normally have to drive, but he lives on a houseboat, so he made some adjustments.
"I floated my home up to the middle of town here. I was able to find a dock," he said. "Sunday afternoon, we jumped on the boat and moved it."
Reps. David McKinley and Evan Jenkins did not respond to interview requests.
Reach David Gutman at david.gutman@wvgazette.com, 304-348-5119 or follow @davidlgutman on Twitter.