<P> Twice have joint meetings been attended by dignitaries from two countries: On September 18, 1978, when Congress was addressed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and on July 26, 1994, when Congress was addressed by King Hussein of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin . </P> <P> John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, had originally been scheduled to address Congress on September 12, 2001, but his address was postponed due to the September 11 terrorist attacks the previous day . Howard's address was rescheduled for June 12, 2002 where he spoke about the attacks he had witnessed 9 months earlier . Howard was acknowledged with a standing ovation and describes the occasion as a "moving moment ." </P> <P> The most recent addresses by foreign dignitaries were given by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 8, 2016, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on April 29, 2015, and Pope Francis on September 24, 2015 . The Pope did not address the joint session as a religious dignitary but as a head of state . </P> <P> All foreign heads of state and heads of government are presented officially to Congress in the same manner as the President during the State of the Union Address and are introduced by the Speaker by their diplomatic style of address, followed by their name and respective office . </P>

When was the last time a foreign leader addressed congress