Officials have said they had never seen members of Congress listening as attentively as they were during Pope Francis’ address on Thursday.
But Rep. Bob Brady’s (D-PA) attention was turned elsewhere – to His Holiness’ water glass.
Brady, who is Catholic, told the Philadelphia Daily News he watched the Pontiff sip from his provided glass of water just three times during the course of his address to a joint meeting of Congress.
When the Holy See finished the speech and left the lectern, Brady calmly swiped the glass and headed back to his office, where his wife, Debra, a friend, and a staffer each drank from the glass., the Daily News first reported. The group also snapped pictures to mark the occasion.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and a small posse joined in with, although they settled for dipping their fingers in the water to bless themselves rather than take sips.
Brady told CNN the water is blessed because the Pope drank out of it, and that he would return or pay for the glass if asked. Unless he’s told otherwise, Brady said he plans to have the glass “authenticated” and pass it down as a family heirloom.
“I’m sure it’s blessed if the Pope drank out of it. Why not?” Brady said. “If not, I’m saying it is.”
It’s a stunt Brady has pulled before. He famously made off with President Obama’s glass of water from his 2009 inauguration, but insists he did not drink from that glass.
