Swigging ‘Holiness’ water

When Pope Francis concluded his moving address to Congress on Thursday, dozens of lawmakers followed as he left the podium, hoping to clasp the hand or touch the garments of His Holiness.

Then there was Rep. Bob Brady (DPa.), who instead dashed to the podium to swipe the pope’s drinking glass.

The halffull glass of water has now become something of a holy relic for the congressman.

Brady took the glass back to his office, where he drank out of it, and then held it up for his wife, Debra, and staff members to drink from.

He’s saving the rest to sprinkle on his grandchildren, a staffer told ABC News.

“The congressman is a Catholic and has immense respect for the Holy Father,” Brady’s chief of staff, Stan White, told ABC.

Brady “was immensely moved by the speech,” White said.

“He thought the Holy Father spoke to issues he cared deeply about . . . especially caring about the poor and the Holy Father’s concern about our environment,” White said.

Brady appears to be both proud and protective of his papal relic.

He had his staff take photos as he held the glass to mouths of his wife and staffers, then sent the pictures out to the press.

The photos also show Brady holding the glass gingerly, by its rim and bottom only, as if to avoid marring it with his own, or anyone else’s, fingerprints.

Brady represents part of Philadelphia and plans to follow the popular pontiff there this weekend, where Brady will attend a papal speech and Mass Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.

TAKE AND DRINK: Faithful Rep. Bob Brady swiped the half-full glass of water from which Pope Francis drank while addressing Congress, and then took a sip himself before sharing some later with wife Debra.