[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 145 (Thursday, October 16, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S12726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           POPE JOHN PAUL II

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today Pope John Paul II and billions of 
faithful around the world celebrate the 25th anniversary of his 
election in 1978 to the papacy.
  Born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 in Poland, John Paul II is the 
first non-Italian pope in 380 years. He has profoundly shaped the 
modern church and advanced its spiritual and moral influence across the 
globe. A poet, a playwright and a philosopher, Pope John Paul II has 
been an indefatigable champion of the poor and dispossessed.
  In his 25 years of service to the church, he has also traveled more 
extensively than any pope before him. His historic trip to Poland in 
1979 catalyzed the Solidarity Movement and led to the peaceful 
dissolution of the Soviet Empire. He is also the only pope ever to have 
visited a mosque or a synagogue.
  Those who have studied the Pope's writings and biography say that the 
Pope was profoundly shaped by his early encounter with death and 
suffering.
  As one expert observes, Professor Tony Judt for ``Frontline'', John 
Paul ``was born in 1920, shortly after World War I to an impoverished 
Poland, into a family, where, one by one, his closest relatives died 
around him--He was left before his 21st birthday with no family. At 
about the time of his father's death, shortly before, World War II 
broke out, and he lived in Poland under the worst dictatorship ever 
known--And then this man lives in post-war Poland for 20 years under 
Communist occupation when Poland was a grim, depressed, dishonest, 
duplicitous impoverished place.''

  Out of all of this grimness and death, John Paul did not become 
despondent or embittered. No, indeed, his experience of profound loss 
and suffering seemed to have deepened his spirituality and his capacity 
to find strength first and foremost in God, but also in man's 
fragility.
  Billions around the world have been blessed by the Pope's goodness 
and drive, his sincere love for the individual, and his determination 
to reconnect human endeavor to its higher purpose.
  Pope John Paul has fought tirelessly against the culture of death, he 
has fought for man's dignity against tyranny and triviality. And if it 
is not too much to say, Pope John Paul has devoted his life to fighting 
for our souls.
  I would like to close with a poem he wrote when he was only 19 years 
old. To me, it typifies his extraordinarily sensitive nature and 
perception of the divine mystery. It is called, ``Over This, Your White 
Grave''

     Over this, your white grave
     the flowers of life in white--
     so many years without you--
     how many have passed out of sight?
     Over this your white grave
     covered for years, there is a stir in the air, something 
           uplifting
     and, like death, beyond comprehension.
     Over this your white grave
     oh, mother, can such loving cease?
     for all his filial adoration a prayer:
     Give her eternal peace--

     [Krakow, spring 1939]

  God bless Pope John Paul II.

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