[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 147 (Monday, October 20, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9694-H9697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF POPE JOHN PAUL II'S ASCENSION TO THE
PAPACY
Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 400) honoring the 25th anniversary of Pope John
Paul II's ascension to the papacy, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 400
Whereas Karol Jozef Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since
his October 1978 election to the papacy, was born in
Wadowice, Poland, on May 18, 1920, the day of the ``Polish
Miracle'', the nation's first military victory in 200 years
and a day which set in motion events which briefly restored
Poland's independence;
Whereas he made his First Holy Communion at age 9 and was
confirmed at 18, and saw his mother, father, and eldest
brother all die before he turned 21, and upon graduation from
Marcin Wadowita high school in Wadowice, he enrolled in
Cracow's Jagiellonian University in 1938 and in a school for
drama;
Whereas the Nazi occupation forces closed Cracow's
Jagiellonian University, where he was enrolled in 1939 and
young Karol had to work in a quarry and then in a chemical
factory to earn his living and to avoid being deported to
Germany;
Whereas in 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he
began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow, run by
Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Cracow, and at
the same time, Karol Wojtylla was one of the pioneers of the
``Rhapsodic Theatre'', which was forced to hold clandestine
performances;
Whereas in 1948 he returned to Poland and was vicar of
various parishes in Cracow as well as chaplain for the
university students until 1951, when he took up again his
studies on philosophy and theology;
Whereas on January 13, 1964, he was nominated Archbishop of
Cracow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a cardinal June 26,
1967;
Whereas on October 16, 1978, Karol Wojtylla began his
pontificate as Pope John Paul II;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has used his pontificate in
unique fashion, emerging as more than just the leader of the
Catholic Church, but a global voice against communism,
oppression, and tyranny; working both in public and private,
to exercise his influence against the forces of injustice;
Whereas in the 1980s, Pope John Paul II was a vocal
supporter of the Polish Solidarity movement and his support
for striking workers at the Gdansk Shipyard was a key to the
downfall of communism in Poland, and started in motion a
chain of events ultimately leading to the dissolution of the
Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact;
Whereas his criticism of such dictators as Alfred
Stroessner in Paraguay, Augusto Pinochet in Chile, and
Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines encouraged opposition
movements that eventually brought down those governments;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has become the most traveled Pope
in history, journeying more than a half million miles
visiting 125 countries, conducting meetings with numerous
government leaders during 38 official visits, holding 690
audiences and meetings held with Heads of State and 226
audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has welcomed more than 16,000,000
pilgrims in the General Audiences which were held weekly at
the Vatican; and met with tens of millions of the faithful
during pastoral visits made in Italy and throughout the
world, including more than 8,000,000 pilgrims during the
Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has been a prolific writer
completing 14 encyclicals, 13 apostolic exhortations, 11
apostolic constitutions, and 42 apostolic letters, and he has
also published three books: ``Crossing the Threshold of
Hope'' (October 1994); ``Gift and Mystery: On the 50th
Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination'' (November 1996); and
``Roman Tryptych--Meditations'', a book of poems (March
2003);
Whereas John Paul II has presided over 139 beatification
ceremonies (1,311 Blesseds proclaimed) and 48 canonization
ceremonies (469 Saints) during his pontificate, and he has
held 9 consistories in which he created 231 cardinals;
Whereas in 1981, Pope John Paul II survived an
assassination attempt after being shot twice by Mehmet Ali
Agca in St. Peter's Square, whom the Pope would later
personally meet and forgive;
Whereas Pope John Paul II, a survivor of fascism,
communism, and terrorism, has been a tireless voice for
morality and decency; and
Whereas Pope John Paul II has emerged as more than just a
spiritual leader for the world's Catholics, but as one of the
most influential and inspirational leaders of the 20th and
21st centuries, as a consistent voice for peace and human
dignity: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives
honors the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's ascension
to the papacy.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. McCotter) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter).
General Leave
Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H. Res. 400, the resolution now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
[[Page H9695]]
McCotter) for yielding me this time and for introducing this important
resolution, as well as for all his work and leadership on the Committee
on International Relations.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join in the celebration of His Holiness,
Pope John Paul II, who is marking his Silver Jubilee as the spiritual
leader of more than one billion Catholics around the world.
On October 16, 1978, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the Archbishop of
Krakow, was elected Pope. This cardinal, little known outside of his
native Poland, addressed a crowd of over 200,000 in St. Peter's Square
that day and emotionally expressed his fears about the awesome
responsibility of being chosen for such a position. He also told the
world that day, ``Be not afraid.''
Twenty-five years ago tomorrow, he was installed as the Bishop of
Rome and celebrated his first mass as Pope. John Paul II is the 263rd
successor of St. Peter. He was the youngest Pope in over a century, the
first non-Italian Pope in over 450 years, and the first Slav Pope.
This man was formed at a remarkable time in human history. He knew
the persecution of oppression and witnessed the false ideologies of the
20th century. He studied for the priesthood in secrecy and lived
through the Nazi occupation and Communist subjugation of his native
Poland. He was a philosopher, theologian, and pastor. He was
instrumental in the demise of the Communist regime in Poland and played
an important role in the collapse of communism throughout central and
Eastern Europe, which ended the Cold War.
The Holy Father has continued to promote freedom and peace throughout
the world during his Pontificate, a freedom based on the truth of the
``transcendent dignity'' of each individual human person, the truth
that every human being has a dignity that goes beyond Earthly
advantages and accomplishments.
{time} 1430
The Holy Father during his pontificate has expounded Catholic
doctrine and the Magisterium of the Church, and has expanded the Second
Vatican Council's engagement with modernity and modern culture. He has
accounted for the Church's past, and has pushed Catholic teaching into
all areas of modern life.
Perhaps most importantly for the future, the Holy Father has truly
internationalized the Catholic Church. Over the past 25 years, the
number of Catholics worldwide has grown from 757 million to over a
billion, an increase of over 40 percent. In Africa, the number of
Catholics has increased nearly 150 percent, and in Asia, over 80
percent. The Holy Father has internationalized the Roman Curia,
Italians controlled half of the top 20 Vatican departments, and today
they head only four, and the College of Cardinals, cardinals
representing approximately 20 countries, but today represent over 60
countries. He has traveled more extensively throughout the world, more
than any predecessor, visiting 129 countries, and more people have seen
this one man in person than any other human being in history.
His Holiness has reached out in an unprecedented way to peoples of
other beliefs and religions all over the world in an effort toward
greater understanding, healing and harmony. He has particularly
promoted unity among Christian churches, reconciliation with the Jewish
people, and a dialogue with Islam. The Holy Father was the first Pope
to visit a synagogue and the first to visit a mosque.
His Holiness with bestowed with the Congressional Gold Medal January
8, 2001.
Last week during the Silver Jubilee celebrations, Cardinal Ratzinger
recalled the new Pope's first words 25 years ago. Cardinal Ratzinger
was speaking to the Holy Father, ``You said then that you came from a
far-away place. But we understood right away that the faith in Jesus
Christ that came through your words and your person overcame all
distances.'' Through the years, he continued, you have announced God's
will without fear, even when it contrasts with what men think and
want.''
I consider it an honor to be able to recognize Pope John Paul II on
his 25th anniversary, and I ask my colleagues to join me in paying
tribute to this devoted spiritual leader and to celebrate with the Holy
Father this Jubilee.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and at the
outset I want to commend my distinguished colleagues, the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter)
for their work on this important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, it is right and fitting that we in Congress offer a
resolution to honor the 25th anniversary of John Paul II's papacy. The
Pope is a remarkable individual whose actions in the last quarter
century have altered the course of world events. Polish-born Karol
Jozef Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II on October 16, 1978, a quarter
century ago. After a long succession of Western Europeans at the head
of the world's largest Christian denomination, he brought an
extraordinary and historically unique perspective to his task. It was
reflected in his first address to the people who gathered that day to
see him in St. Peter's Square, as well as to the people of faith around
the globe. He said, ``Be not afraid.'' This was an important message as
the Soviet Union dominated not only his native Poland but the gigantic
Soviet Union and all the satellites in Central and Eastern Europe. From
that moment on, His Holiness has steadfastly used his pontificate to
speak out against global injustices and oppression, and he has
committed to do so until his very last breath. He is widely recognized
as a leader not only of the Catholic Church, but as a man of great
moral authority for the entire globe.
In the 1980s, the Pope played a pivotal role in supporting the Polish
Solidarity movement, which was instrumental in the downfall of
communism in Poland and throughout Central and Eastern Europe. This, in
turn, helped launch the chain of events that led to the dissolution of
Stalin's empire and the end of communist domination in the eastern half
of Europe.
Pope John Paul has been actively involved in social justice causes of
all kinds, speaking out against dictators in Paraguay, Chile, the
Philippines and traveling to 125 countries to visit with government
leaders, but more importantly, to visit with ordinary people.
Under his leadership, the Vatican's diplomacy around the globe has
spanned a wide range of subjects, from small arms trafficking to the
great gulf between rich and poor in the developing world. One of his
unique features was his steady fight against the plague of anti-
Semitism and this week when the leader of Malaysia has again raised in
the ugliest form anti-Semitism at an international gathering, the
important and decency of this Pope stands out in sharp contrast. The
Pope has also welcomed tens of millions of visitors to the Vatican. My
wife, Annette, and I were fortunate enough to have an audience with His
Holiness. We were both impressed with his presence, his kindness, his
wisdom and with his authority. He is one of the most influential and
inspirational leaders of our time.
I feel particularly close to him personally, Mr. Speaker, because he
has survived the evils of both fascism and communism, as have I. This
pontiff has remained a constant voice for human dignity and peace. His
admonition to forgive was most poignantly exemplified by his
forgiveness of the man who attempted to kill him in St. Peter's Square.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join all of us who are
supporting this resolution to this remarkable man and to his 25 years
of unique and exemplary service to all mankind.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).
Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
McCotter) for introducing and honoring Pope John Paul II. I rise in
strong support of this resolution, and I am grateful we are discussing
it today, the 25th anniversary of his papacy.
As a Roman Catholic whose grandmother came to America from Poland,
nothing has made me or my family more proud of our heritage than has
Pope John Paul II. For the last 25 years, he has been a constant
reminder that everything is obtainable if you pour your heart and soul
into the work and trust in God's guidance.
[[Page H9696]]
Faced with adversity since his own childhood, Pope John Paul II has
always persevered and uplifted those cast aside by society, giving them
hope through his compassion and through his example. Whether it was
surviving the Nazi reign in Poland, or helping heroes like Ronald
Reagan end the grip of communism on the world, Pope John Paul II never
met a fight that was bigger or more powerful than his vision and his
faith.
And while past religious beliefs were often barriers, Pope John II
accomplished a mission to bridge those divides no matter how daunting
the task or how deep the divide. He has elected the first non-Italian
pontiff in 455 years. He was the first pontiff from Poland, and the
first pontiff from a country headed by a Marxist and atheist
government, all circumstances that would pose huge challenges for
anyone. My Polish grandmother, who came to America, knew some of those
same entrenched barriers and stereotypes that this great man had to
overcome at the start of his election. But in the 25 years since that
election, Pope John Paul II has long surmounted those challenges and
has become the world's leading voice against oppression, tyranny and
injustice.
Cardinal Ratzinger said, ``You turn to young and old, rich and poor,
powerful and humble, and always showed according to the example of
Jesus Christ, a particular love for the poor and the defenseless.'' In
his prayer this weekend in St. Peter's Square, ``I renew in the hands
of Mary, beloved Mother, the gift of myself, of the present and the
future, everything will be done according to your will. Supreme Pastor,
stay among us so that we can proceed with you securely to the house of
the Father.''
Mr. Speaker, he is a real-life hero and a role model in a world that
has far too few, and I join my colleagues in honoring Pope John Paul II
in commemorating his 25th anniversary.
Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consumed to
the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi).
Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
McCotter) for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 25 years of prayer,
compassion, and leadership of the man of prayer, Pope John Paul II.
What a beautiful legacy and example Pope John Paul has shown in his
deep belief in God, in the knowledge that God created us to be men and
women of labor and love. His Holiness has become an inspirational light
to the world, and has stood as a beacon of fight between good and evil.
A man whose intellect and spirit is delivered to others within a warm
conviction to consistently show love from his big Polish heart. This
good and humble man has taught us to carve out our faith through
prayer, a prayer in a deep, pure and humble manner, from the dirt of
the earth, through each fiber of our being, always extolling the
virtues of truth, forgiveness and compassion toward every living soul.
His life demonstrates that prayer is a means of learning, growth and
understanding, always to continually be drawn to his knees, persevering
each day in strong heartfelt prayer.
This simple man of prayer, of discipline, has been a Godsend these
last 25 years, and in God's mercy, I hope he sees fit to relieve John
Paul of some of the burden as he continues to travel along the trying
road of life, leading people to God. Thank you, John Paul II, for the
exceptional service to mankind you have given, and for being such a
beautiful man of prayer.
Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Briefly, this resolution is here this week which I appreciate, but I
would like for the ``eternal record'' to record that any delay in this
resolution, please not be added to my sentence in purgatory should I
get that far.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Pope John
Paul II as the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of his ascension
to the papacy. Born Karol Joozef Wojtylla in Wadowice, Poland in 1920,
he entered the seminary in 1942 and was named Archbishop of Krakow in
1964. Three years later, he became a cardinal under Pope Paul VI. Karol
Wojtylla was named Pope John Paul II on Oct. 16, 1978.
Pope John Paul II means many things to many people of different
faiths, cultures and backgrounds throughout the world. Adoring crowds,
Catholic and non-Catholic alike, meet him wherever he goes to hear his
messages of peace and hope, especially during troubled times. As a
child he suffered greatly from the death of his infant sister and
mother before the age of nine, only to face the death of his older
brother three years later. He musters strength, from these challenges
in his childhood and an assassination attempt on his life in adulthood,
to help others. Indeed Pope John Paul II is one of the most recognized
people in the world for his work on human rights and humanitarian
assistance.
Growing up during the times of Nazi Germany, he witnessed the very
real atrocities committed against Jews, and in Poland worked to end
communism by sending messages and instructions with priests to
imprisoned union leaders. He was the first pope to visit the memorial
at Auschwitz to pay homage to the victims of the Holocaust. Pope John
Paul II is often credited with fostering a greater understanding
between Christians and Jews and he leads by example, being the first
pope to ever visit a synagogue.
Pope John Paul II is also the most traveled pope in the 2000-year
history of the church--traveling to over 100 countries and speaking
eight languages, he reaches out to families and citizens in need. Often
we see pictures of the pope with sick children or ailing seniors and we
hear his message of generosity and care towards others.
He is a scholar. Pope John Paul II studied at an underground seminary
to become a priest and is an accomplished author of two doctoral
dissertations as well as numerous speeches. He taught at the Catholic
University of Lublin--the only Catholic university in the communist
world--and was later appointed to the Chair of Ethics at Catholic
University before becoming an auxiliary bishop.
Pope John Paul II is a pope of many firsts. He was the first non-
Italian pope in 455 years and at age 58 was the youngest pope in 132
years. He met with Mikhail Gorbachev--the first meeting between a pope
and a Kremlin chief--and also visited Cuba at the behest of Fidel
Castro.
As the world joins him in celebrating his 25th anniversary, I hope
all of us can agree that Pope John Paul II is surely a man of great
courage, conviction, bravery and integrity. He has positively impacted
the world and the mark he leaves will surely inspire and teach
generations to come.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House
Resolution 400, honoring the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's
ascension to the papacy. I want to thank Mr. McCotter for introducing
the resolution.
As the successor of Peter, Pope John Paul II is the beloved leader of
Catholics all over the world and as we celebrate his 25th anniversary,
we pay tribute to a man whose leadership, courage and compassion is a
model for everyone. Through the many challenges that has faced the
Catholic Church and the world, Pope John Paul II has stood firm in his
faith. He has been unafraid to use his influence to shape world events,
speaking for peace and advocating for human rights. His willingness to
reach out to the different faith traditions and his forgiveness of his
would-be-assassin has earned him the respect of many and is an example
for all leaders.
Pope John Paul II has presided at 142 beatification ceremonies where
he proclaimed 1,315 Blesseds, including Blessed Diego Luis de San
Vitores of Guam, and 50 cannonization ceremonies resulting in 476
Saints of the Church. He has held 8 consistories in which he created
201 cardinals.
During his Pontificate, 17,350,000 pilgrims have participated in the
General Audiences. This does not include the special audiences,
religious ceremonies and the millions of people he has met during his
pastoral visits throughout the world. He has met with numerous
government officials during 38 official visits and the 700 audiences
and meetings held with Heads of State and the 231 audiences and
meetings with Prime Ministers.
The people of Guam were honored when Pope John Paul II chose to visit
Guam in 1981 at the invitation of Archbishop Anthony Apuron. Many
people camped overnight in streets and parking lots near the plaza
where he was to say mass. For many, this would be their only
opportunity to see him. Tens of thousands of people attended the
service. It was an awesome sight to see everyone, children with their
parents and grandparents, religious and government leaders, gathered to
celebrate mass with the Holy Father. It was a day that will never be
forgotten by the people of Guam.
On behalf of the people of Guam, I fully support House Resolution
400, honoring the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's ascension of
the papacy.
Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H9697]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 400, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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