China’s president, Xi Jinping (pronounced Shee Jin Ping), paid a state visit to the United States. Ordinarily, Xi’s visit would have grabbed the most headlines. It might even have overcome the celebrity status now given to presidential nominees.

However, a visit by Francis, the Roman Catholic pope, upstaged them all, at least for a while. He spoke to Congress about saving both the poor and the planet from greed. He appeared to single out one man, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has played a central role in the Iran nuclear agreement, for a handshake.

He blessed children, including the grandchild of U.S. House Speaker John Boehner. His request for Boehner to pray for him deeply impressed the Speaker. Perhaps the Pope’s request played into Boehner’s decision to announce the next day his coming resignation from his posts as speaker and as a Congressional representative.

The Pope has left the United States. Politicians have returned to calling each other names. Political commentators speculate that Boehner’s resignation will bring on more political infighting.

Concerning any lasting benefit of the Pope’s visit, we might consider a parable told by Jesus in the New Testament. The parable told of a woman putting yeast in bread, allowing yeast’s silent growth until it spread through the entire mixture.

No political agreements were produced by the Pope’s visit. Xi and President Obama did reach a few agreements. Yet who’s to say how much effect Francis’ bit of yeast might have over time?