[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 38 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H1807-H1821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II 
              AND EXPRESSING PROFOUND SORROW ON HIS DEATH

  Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of April 
5, 2005, and as the designee of the majority leader, I call up the 
resolution (H. Res. 190) honoring the life and achievements of His 
Holiness Pope John Paul II and expressing profound sorrow on his death, 
and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 190

       Whereas His Holiness Pope John Paul II was born Karol Jozef 
     Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland, on May 18, 1920, and on October 
     16, 1978, was elected the 264th Pope of the Catholic Church, 
     making history by becoming the first Pope from Poland and the 
     first non-Italian Pope in more than 400 years;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II dedicated his long life to the 
     peace and well-being of mankind;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II risked his own life by defying 
     the Nazi forces which occupied Poland during World War II and 
     protecting its Jewish population, while trying to inspire 
     faith in the oppressed;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II returned to his native Poland in 
     June 1979, unleashing a patriotic and religious force that 
     would ultimately lead to the peaceful toppling of the 
     Communist regime in Poland;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II was a unique, substantial, and 
     historic catalyst in the demise of Soviet communism and the 
     emancipation of hundreds of millions of people from 
     totalitarian rule;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II used public and private diplomacy 
     and the power of moral suasion to encourage world leaders to 
     respect the inalienable rights of the human person;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II articulated the importance of 
     individual liberty being undergirded by a ``moral order'', 
     embraced the poor and oppressed masses of the world, and 
     encouraged governments and the faithful to attend to the 
     needs of those who are less fortunate;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II ministered to Catholic and non-
     Catholic alike, providing a personal example of grace, 
     endurance, compassion, courage, sacrifice, and foresight;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II was an articulate and outspoken 
     advocate for religious freedom and Christian humanism, 
     asserting that the Catholic Church could not claim religious 
     liberty for itself unless it was willing to concede it to 
     others;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II sought to heal divisions between 
     the Catholic Church and other Christian faiths, expressing 
     sadness and regret for the acts of individual past and 
     present Catholics who persecuted others on account of their 
     faith, and promoting reconciliation through dialogue with 
     Jews and Muslims and through visits to areas of historic 
     conflict, including Ireland and the Holy Land;
       Whereas Pope John Paul II traveled more extensively than 
     any other Pope, traversing nearly three-quarters of a million 
     miles, visiting more than 125 countries, being seen by more 
     people than any person in human history, and ministering to 
     more than six million people at once in the closing mass of 
     World Youth Day 1995 in the Philippines;
       Whereas on January 8, 2001, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, J. Dennis Hastert, presented Pope John Paul 
     II with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that 
     Congress can bestow upon any individual;
       Whereas in November 2003 the House of Representatives and 
     the Senate unanimously agreed to House Concurrent Resolution 
     313, which called upon the President, on behalf of the United 
     States, to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pope 
     John Paul II;
       Whereas on June 4, 2004, President George W. Bush traveled 
     to the Vatican and presented Pope John Paul II with the 
     Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of 
     the United States Government;
       Whereas, even as Pope John Paul II struggled to regain his 
     physical strength after suffering failings in his physical 
     condition in early 2005, he continued to minister to the 
     faithful, while suffering with grace and in silence; and
       Whereas up until the moment of his death on April 2, 2005, 
     Pope John Paul II remained faithful and principled, inspiring 
     a continuing defense of the unique dignity of every human 
     life: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) has learned with profound sorrow of the death of His 
     Holiness Pope John Paul II;
       (2) expresses gratitude for the life of Pope John Paul II 
     and the innumerable blessings manifested through his service;
       (3) commends the life's work of Pope John Paul II, 
     recognizing his enduring and historic contributions to the 
     causes of freedom, human dignity, and peace in the world;
       (4) expresses condolences to the people of Poland for the 
     loss of such an inspirational figure in Poland's 
     transformation from a totalitarian regime to democratic 
     government;
       (5) extends its heartfelt sympathy to the more than one 
     billion Catholics around the world, including more than 
     sixty-six million Catholics in the United States, who looked

[[Page H1808]]

     to Pope John Paul II as Supreme Pontiff; and
       (6) calls upon the people of the United States to reflect 
     on the life of Pope John Paul II during the worldwide period 
     of remembrance following his death.
       Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Secretary 
     of State with a request that the Secretary transmit it to the 
     Papal Secretary of State at the Vatican.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
Tuesday, April 5, 2005, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on House Resolution 190, the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to speak in honor of the life and 
the achievements of His Holiness Pope John Paul II. It is hard to 
imagine any other person who holds so much worldwide respect regardless 
of religious faith. The estimated 4 million people, including 200 heads 
of state, expected to attend the Pope's funeral in Rome later this week 
will bear witness to history's high regard for this man of principle 
and courage.
  John Paul II dedicated his long life to peace and freedom for all 
mankind. As a young man, the Pontiff risked his life and defied Nazi 
forces which occupied Poland in an effort to protect the Jewish 
population and others in his homeland. As the 264th Pope, his faith 
remained steadfast during the years of the Cold War, playing an 
important role in the demise of Soviet communism.
  As columnist Charles Krauthammer commented this week, ``John Paul 
II's first great mission was to reclaim his native Eastern Europe for 
civilization, and he demonstrated what Europe had forgotten and Stalin 
never knew: the power of faith as an instrument of political 
mobilization.'' Visiting more than 125 countries over his career, the 
Pope reached out to people of other cultures and religions in an effort 
toward greater understanding, healing, and harmony.
  Despite the steady decline in his health due to Parkinson's disease, 
and especially since he fell ill in early February, John Paul II 
continued to lead the Roman Catholic Church with his gentle strength 
and noble heart. He remained faithful, principled, and resolute 
concerning the continuing defense of the Church's traditional belief in 
the unique dignity of every human life from conception until natural 
death.
  During a long and fruitful life, he literally provided the world with 
an example of how to live with dignity and unshakable faith. He told us 
to ``be not afraid'' in the face of seemingly insurmountable 
challenges. He showed us how to demand justice from the unjust. His 
faith inspired us when we most needed reassurance. His composure and 
dignity during times of great suffering serves as an inspiration to us 
all. He bore his personal cross with grace and serenity until the very 
end of his long and remarkable life.
  As John Paul II has said, ``Faith opens us to a hope that does not 
disappoint, placing us before the perspective of the final 
resurrection.'' While life itself is short and tenuous, I am comforted 
by the fact that His Holiness is finally at home and in a place of 
peace and refreshment with the Father. I am sure he is praying for us 
even now, as we are praying for him.
  It is appropriate we mourn his passing. It is right and proper that 
we grieve over the loss of humanity's great champion; but we should 
also feel gratitude that this Pope stayed with us for so long and look 
forward to the time when we will hear the words he surely heard last 
Saturday: ``Come, Beloved of my Father, and enter the Kingdom which has 
been prepared for you since the beginning of time.''
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, at the outset, I would like to express my deep 
appreciation to the distinguished chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations, my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Hyde), for authoring this resolution remembering the life of Pope 
John Paul II. I also welcome the wholehearted support for this measure 
of my friend, our Democratic leader, the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Pelosi).
  Madam Speaker, one billion Catholics worldwide, more than 60 million 
of them Americans, have suffered the staggering loss of a unique 
spiritual leader. And for all humanity, Pope John Paul II was a 
towering figure in the struggle for freedom. He railed against 
injustice all his life. He fought tirelessly on behalf of the poor, and 
he kept alive the aspirations of the oppressed wherever they were.
  Those of us who have shared in his fight against both Nazism and 
communism have a special appreciation for him. Those of us who lived in 
the grip of Nazism and communism will always be grateful for his 
eloquence and his courage in his fight against Hitler's tyranny and 
Soviet domination during the Cold War.
  I had the profound honor, with my wife, of having a serious 
conversation with Pope John Paul II during the visit to Rome in 1998. 
In our long discussion with His Holiness, we were struck by his clarity 
of mind, his captivating personality, and his absolute refusal to let 
his deteriorating health force him to remain behind the walls of 
Vatican City. These impressions came back to me during these very last 
days when a Pope silenced by illness nevertheless continued to call out 
forcefully for freedom and peace and to bring comfort to millions 
around the globe.
  In his first public address at his installation as the Supreme 
Pontiff in 1978, John Paul II famously urged the faithful, and I quote, 
``Be not afraid.'' In the decades that followed, this message resonated 
well beyond the Church and the City of Rome. Within months of assuming 
his papacy, Pope John Paul II traveled to his native Poland. Enormous 
crowds poured onto the streets to greet him. The Pope pointed out that 
it was impossible to understand Poland without the context of 
Catholicism, and that, in his words, ``There can be no just Europe 
without the independence of Poland.''
  Throughout the 1980s, the Pope remained in constant contact with the 
nascent Solidarity labor movement and with the Polish Government, 
pushing successfully for the end of martial law in 1983, and, 
ultimately, Madam Speaker, the end of the Polish Communist regime in 
1989.
  The demise of communism in Poland dramatically influenced the pace of 
Democratic change throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Americans, 
together with the rest of the world, will be eternally grateful for his 
important role in bringing liberty and democracy to tens of millions of 
men and women behind the Iron Curtain.
  The Pontiff went on to provide inspiration for the ``people power'' 
revolt against the corrupt rule of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, 
and he strongly supported the pro-democracy efforts of the Archbishop 
of Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin. Marcos fell from power in 1986. Then the 
Pope traveled to Chile in 1987 and spoke out firmly against the 
authoritarian rule of Augusto Pinochet. Democracy took hold in Chile in 
1990. Then the Pope traveled to East Timor in 1999, inspiring a whole 
generation of young Timorese to protest Indonesian occupation. East 
Timor won its freedom in 2002.
  Pope John Paul II also made extraordinary efforts to repair relations 
between Catholics and Jews. In 1982, he took the historic step of 
establishing diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the State of 
Israel. He became the first Pope in modern times to visit a synagogue. 
In 2000, he was the first Pope to travel to the State of Israel; and 
there, Madam Speaker, he quietly read a prayer of reconciliation at the 
Western Wall, requesting forgiveness for the sins of the Church against 
Jews through the centuries.

                              {time}  1430

  At a somber visit to the Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust, 
the

[[Page H1809]]

Pope spoke movingly of his Jewish friends he had lost to the death 
camps during the Holocaust, and he recommitted the Catholic Church to 
battling anti-Semitism around the globe. He said, ``The world must heed 
the warning that comes to all of us from the victims of the Holocaust, 
and from the testimony of the survivors.''
  Madam Speaker, with his efforts to reach out to Jews worldwide and to 
the State of Israel, and with his ceaseless work to promote human 
rights globally, Pope John Paul II, became a truly historic figure. We 
were all inspired by his passion for justice. His voice will be missed 
in the great global chorus that sings out for freedom in all corners of 
the world. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht).
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Madam Speaker, first of all, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time.
  Abraham Lincoln was succeeded by Andrew Johnson. Johnson was 
impeached by his fellow Republicans. Teddy Roosevelt became so 
frustrated with his successor, he came back to run against him.
  Great Presidents and great Popes are seldom succeeded by great 
Presidents and great Popes, which is why so many of us mourn the loss 
of Pope John Paul II so much.
  I never saw him in person. As a third-generation Lutheran boy 
marrying a Catholic girl, I take a more ecumenical view of the papacy. 
Until John Paul II, I saw the Pope as generally irrelevant to matters 
of personal faith and world events. Karol Wojtyla changed all that. He 
began his papacy with those simple words, ``Be not afraid.'' He lived 
those words until his dying breath. History always finds a special 
place for the fearless.
  He understood something that many Western sophisticates do not. There 
is enormous persuasive power in communicating deeply held moral truths. 
President Victor Yushchenko reminded us today of something the Pope 
said. He said, ``The path of truth is often difficult, but never 
impossible.''
  He literally took up his cross daily and led charismatically his 
massive flock. He spoke with clarity to them and to the world. He led 
by example, and in the process, like St. Peter before him, he changed 
the world.
  He stared down the Soviets when they threatened to put down the 
Solidarity movement in his native Poland. He traveled more and touched 
the lives of more people than any Pontiff in history. I thank God for 
giving us Karol Wojtyla. He will be succeeded. He will be hard to 
replace.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time.
  One of the great experiences I have had in life was to have an 
audience with Pope John Paul II. I traveled to Rome with the former 
mayor of the city of Chicago, Harold Washington; two other colleagues 
of mine at the time, a Jewish gentleman, Larry Bloom, and a Polish 
gentleman, Bill Krystaniak. The four of us met with the Pope, two 
African Americans, a Jewish person, and a Pole. When we were ready to 
leave, Bill Krystaniak replied, ``We can actually end our trip because 
one of my wishes has been fulfilled.''
  Each one of us left with a tremendous sense of peace and tranquility, 
knowing that we had been in the presence of encompassing greatness, one 
who fought poverty, ignorance, discrimination, totalitarianism, whose 
arms were wide enough and broad enough and strong enough to embrace the 
hopes of the world.
  I strongly support this resolution. Chicago is home to more Poles 
than any city in the world with the exception of Warsaw, and I know 
that we experienced a tremendous sense of pride, not only our Polish 
citizens, but all of Chicago, knowing that Pope John Paul II, had 
passed our way.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Pope John Paul II. 
He served as the head of the Catholic Church during a tumultuous 26 
year period that saw changes that rocked the World as well as the 
Church. During his life, Pope John Paul II's influence extended far 
beyond the Catholic faithful to non-Catholics and world leaders. As a 
result, his death is mourned by people of all faiths around the world.
  In his role as head of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II led a 
growing Church that spans 6 continents and consists of people from very 
different backgrounds. His credibility as a leader was bolstered by his 
willingness to take stands that were often unpopular and sometimes 
viewed by many in highly developed countries as anachronistic. His 
willingness to take stands that reflected the traditional teachings of 
the Church was strengthened by his willingness to acknowledge that the 
Church had at times failed to stress its traditional teachings during 
challenging periods. He did not just acknowledge past errors, but 
sought to prevent future ones by confronting the totalitarian threat of 
his time, the Soviet Union.
  John Paul II was a tireless champion of democracy in Eastern Europe 
and an unrelenting critic of the Soviet Union and its puppet regimes in 
Eastern Europe. His experience growing up in Nazi occupied and Soviet 
controlled Poland surely influenced his pro-democracy, anti-
totalitarian worldview.
  As Chicago is home to the largest number of Poles of any city in the 
world other than Warsaw, his death hits especially close to home. Many 
Chicagoans of Polish descent fled Poland during the crackdowns and 
turmoil of the 1980s--a period during which Pope John Paul II was a 
major figure in the pro-democracy, anti-Soviet movement in his 
homeland. Developments in Poland proved decisive in ending Soviet 
domination in Eastern Europe as well as the collapse of the Soviet 
Union itself. For his leadership in the fight against totalitarianism, 
many people in Eastern Europe and of Eastern European descent hold him 
in particularly high esteem.
  His leadership in the pro-democracy movements in Eastern Europe 
represents only one facet of his numerous accomplishments. A complete 
list would not be possible, though I am certain that my colleagues in 
the house will point out many more.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt).
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in rising to 
honor the life and achievements of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, and 
to express profound sorrow on his death. This week is bittersweet for 
people of faith throughout the world. We mourn the loss of a great 
leader and a man respected by people of many different faiths, yet we 
also celebrate his life and rejoice that he is now enjoying his eternal 
reward.
  From the selection of the first Polish Pope and the first non-Italian 
Pope in over 400 years, Pope John Paul II's leadership of the Catholic 
Church was truly historic. Rightfully credited with helping bring about 
the end of communism, he also maintained a voice of morality during a 
time of overwhelming secularization of the West. The Pope was a 
stalwart in the fight against what he termed a ``culture of death.'' He 
was unrelenting in his promotion of a culture of life.
  Many talk of the Pope's legacy and presumed sainthood, but it seems 
the only legacy Pope John Paul II ever desired was a world of hope that 
celebrates life.
  Our great 40th President, Ronald Reagan, is credited with restoring 
optimism to Americans, but even before Reagan, Pope John Paul II began 
his mission to restore hope to a pessimistic world. In carrying his 
message, Pope John Paul II tirelessly traveled all ends of the globe as 
no Pope and no leader has done before. Even as he was in great physical 
pain, he did not stop visiting people of all ethnicities, cultures and 
faiths to bring Christ's message.
  Pope John Paul II inspired even the most cynical demographic of the 
human population, young adults. The Pope's message to the students of 
freedom and faith led to the success of Solidarity. In later years, the 
annual World Youth Days were filled with students eager to hear the 
Pope's message of faith and hope. The Pope challenged them to a life of 
service in all walks of life. He said, ``Jesus, Servant and Lord, is 
also the one who calls. He calls us to be like him because only in 
service do human beings discover their own dignity and the dignity of 
others.''
  Mr. Speaker, the young people touched by Pope John Paul II will 
continue to carry out his work as they come to shape the world in 
coming years. It is fitting that Pope John Paul II was carried back 
home to the Lord

[[Page H1810]]

on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast day he instituted. His 
last message to the world, which was read posthumously, should be 
repeated often across the globe: ``To humanity, which at times seems to 
be lost and dominated by the power of evil, egoism and fear, the risen 
Lord offers as a gift his love that forgives, reconciles and reopens 
the spirit to hope. It is love that converts hearts and gives peace. 
How much need the world has to understand and accept Divine Mercy.''
  Mr. Speaker, we pray that John Paul II's message will be burned in 
our hearts and guide us through the current and future world 
challenges. We also pray for the repose of his soul and are delighted 
that he is in the company of the Lord he dutifully served his 84 years 
on Earth.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).
  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support, along with the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), on behalf of this resolution 
honoring the life and achievement of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, 
and expressing profound sorrow upon his death.
  Mr. Speaker, while I am a United States Representative today, my 
first public position ever was that of an altar boy at St. Columbus 
Catholic Church in Columbus, Indiana, so it is with a particular sense 
of privilege that I rise today in this capacity to recognize the 
extraordinary life and work of Pope John Paul II.
  My Catholic faith and that of my entire family continues to remain 
the bulwark of our world view, and much of that over the past three 
decades has been invigorated by the leadership and eloquence and 
courage of this man.
  Now, many in the national media have commented since the Pope's 
passing this last Saturday about the nature of his appeal and the 
source of the international grief that has attended his passing. Many 
commentators in print and on television have suggested that his appeal 
is a direct result of his well-schooled public abilities, loosely 
defined as his charisma.
  But I rise today in support of this resolution to respectfully 
disagree with those commentators and to say that I believe Pope John 
Paul II's appeal on a global scale is grounded in his role as a moral 
leader; in fact, one of the chief moral leaders on the planet of the 
20th century.
  His moral leadership and his personal courage were forged, as we have 
heard even today, from an extraordinary youth in the grip of Nazi 
Germany's tyranny. Pope John Paul II, from very early in his life, 
became an opponent of every form of government organized to present 
tyranny against the mind of man. His stands against communism 
throughout his life literally were the underpinning that brought down 
that wall we heard President Yushchenko speak of with gratitude today.
  He was also a moral leader not only for his own Christian church, but 
for the wider world. And as the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
just shared eloquently, after centuries of silent enmity between 
Christendom and the ancient people of Israel, Pope John Paul II spoke 
words of reconciliation and healing.
  In particular, his visit and prayers at the Yad Vashem Holocaust 
Memorial in Jerusalem was, I believe, a watershed event in the history 
of the Christian church and will resonate for centuries in the work of 
the Catholic Church and Christians across the globe.
  Pope John Paul II stood against the immorality of communism and anti-
Semitism and ensured that the church would remain a bulwark of moral 
truth. And he stood for the sanctity of life, as the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde) stated so eloquently. When the culture of death has 
made such a steady advance across Western civilization, Pope John Paul 
II stood for the unborn. His leadership, his voice, his compassion will 
be missed in the life of his church and, I argue humbly, the wider 
world. Pope John Paul II's death is a loss for humanity. He was not 
just the leader of the largest Christian church in the world, he was 
truly a moral leader.
  May God rest his soul and bring comfort and consolation to millions 
of his adherents.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cummings).
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, if I may, I would like to tell a story. In 
January of 1945, a young Jewish girl, 13 years of age, stumbled from a 
Nazi labor camp in Poland, starved to skin and bones, and clad only in 
her striped rags. She shivered in the Polish winter.

                              {time}  1445

  Though she did not know it yet, Edith Zierer was completely alone in 
the world, her mother, father and sister murdered in Nazi camps. When 
she felt that she could no longer bear the cold, Edith rested in the 
corner of a train station.
  Suddenly, a young man wearing a long robe, only 24 years of age 
himself, approached her. He gave Edith tea, bread and cheese and 
offered to help her get to Krakow to find her parents. She rose to 
thank him, but fell to the floor, unable to stand because she was so 
weak. The young man took Edith in his arms, carried her to the train, 
and sat down in a cattle car beside her. He shielded her from the cold 
with his coat, built a small fire for warmth, and accompanied her to 
Krakow.
  Edith Zierer lived, and she still lives today as a result of the 
kindness of this stranger. Mr. Speaker, that generous stranger was also 
an orphan, a young seminarian named Karol Wojtyla, eventually Pope John 
Paul II.
  Mr. Speaker, this is what we mean by a culture of life. A culture of 
life is surviving tragedy as Pope John Paul II did and pledging 
yourself to bettering the lives of others. A culture of life is 
forgiving those who try to extinguish your life as Pope John Paul II 
did when he visited his would-be assassin in jail and forgave him for 
his sins. A culture of life is knowing too well the misery of war and 
becoming a champion of peace. A culture of life is embracing the 
diversity of people living on this planet, advocating religious 
tolerance, human rights, and a more equitable distribution of the 
Earth's precious resources.
  Mr. Speaker, a culture of life is treating each human being as Karol 
Wojtyla treated Edith Zierer. Let a culture of life, in this fashion, 
be Pope John Paul II's legacy.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul).
  (Mr. PAUL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PAUL. I thank the chairman for bringing this resolution to the 
floor, and I strongly support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in paying tribute to 
the life and legacy of Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II was one of 
the great religious leaders of modern times and an eloquent champion of 
human freedom and dignity. Unlike all too many misguided religious 
leaders, the Pope understood that liberty, both personal and economic, 
is a necessary condition for the flourishing of human virtue. The 
Pope's commitment to human dignity, grounded in the teachings of 
Christ, led him to become one of the most eloquent spokespersons for 
the consistent ethic of life, exemplified by his struggle against 
abortion, war, euthanasia, and the death penalty.
  Unfortunately, few in American politics today adhere to the 
consistent ethic of life. Thus we see some who cheered the Pope's stand 
against the war and the death penalty while downplaying or even openly 
defying his teachings against abortion and euthanasia. Others who 
cheered the Pope's opposition to abortion and euthanasia were puzzled 
or even hostile to his opposition to war. Many of these pro-life 
supporters of war tried to avoid facing the inherent contradictions in 
their position by distorting the just war doctrine which the Pope 
properly interpreted as denying sanction to the Iraq war. One prominent 
talk show host even suggested that the Pope was the enemy of the United 
States for this position.
  In conclusion, I am pleased to pay tribute to Pope John Paul II. I 
would encourage those who wish to honor the memory of John Paul to 
reflect on his teachings regarding war and the sanctity of life and 
consider the inconsistencies in claiming to be pro-life but supporting 
the senseless killing of innocent people that inevitably accompanies 
militarism, or in claiming to be

[[Page H1811]]

pro-peace and pro-compassion but supporting the legal killing of the 
unborn.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
ranking member for yielding time, and I thank the gentleman from 
Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for bringing this resolution to the floor. 
Might I offer my deepest sympathy to the world's family of Catholics, 
to those Catholics in my congressional district, the 18th Congressional 
District in the State of Texas, and as well allow me as a member of the 
ecumenical community, many different faiths, to be able to express our 
sympathy as well.
  It is important to note what many of us believe Pope John Paul II 
stood for, an unyielding spine, backbone, someone who was larger than 
life, who believed in humanity and its safety and love and as well had 
the common touch, a man who understood suffering, having lost his 
mother at an early age of 8 years old, his older brother of scarlet 
fever just a few years later, and his father, who was a sergeant in the 
army, in 1941. He understood suffering. Yet he was the first Pope to 
expand his reach and understand the value of the world's religious 
communities coming together.
  And so he paid homage to the victims of the Holocaust. He was the 
first Pope to visit Auschwitz and as well to visit the synagogue of 
Rome. In March 2000, Pope John Paul II went to the Holocaust memorial 
as well. And, yes, he visited Syria. Pope John Paul II was also the 
first Pope to visit a Muslim mosque when he traveled to Damascus, 
Syria. Later on, with the strength of his conscience, he said to us, 
war is a defeat for humanity and that wars generally do not resolve the 
problems for which they are fought and therefore prove ultimately 
futile.
  So I simply have these words to say, Mr. Speaker, simply to thank 
Pope John Paul II for his legacy and his life, to appreciate the fact 
that he was willing to lift those who could not lift themselves and 
thank him for teaching us about the genocide in Sudan and allowing us 
to lift ourselves to be able to stand against it and to fight with 
every breath in our body to be able to live his legacy, and that is a 
man of peace and a man who loved humanity.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of the House Resolution 
honoring the life and achievements of His Holiness Pope John Paul II 
and expressing profound sorrow on his death. Truly, billions of people 
around the world, both Catholic and non-Catholic alike mourn the death 
of Pope John Paul II. He held one of most influential positions on 
Earth, but his life will be remembered as a man of the people, a man 
who never saw any barriers between people.
  I plan to travel with the Congressional Delegation to Pope John 
Paul's funeral at the Vatican in Rome along with an estimated two 
million mourners. This man has touched the life of so many both with 
his words and with his actions, that people now come together to honor 
this great man. Pope John Paul was born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920, 
in Wadowice, Poland. His early life was not easy, his mother died when 
he was only eight years old. Three years later, he lost his older 
brother to scarlet fever. His father, who was a sergeant in the army, 
died in 1941. By the age of 20, he had lost three of his closest family 
members. But as he would throughout his life, he summoned his courage 
and his remarkable resolve to remain true to his religious upbringing. 
He would grow up in Poland during an era of Nazi occupation and 
repression. He worked as a common laborer and even as religious 
expression was being quelled by the Nazis he continued his Catholic 
teachings.
  He would become the youngest bishop in modern Polish history at the 
age of 38 as the Archbishop of Krakow. Nine years later he was the 
youngest cardinal, guiding the Catholic faithful in a country that was 
officially atheist. He was known even then for his stance against 
Communism and the forces of oppression and hate. On Oct. 16, 1978 at 
the age of 58, John Paul II was selected to lead the Roman Catholic 
Church as the youngest pope of the 20th century. His relative youth 
allowed him to be extremely active and meet with people throughout the 
world. His charisma and grace allowed him to touch the hearts of people 
and convey a message of peace and collective humanity.
  As Pope, John Paul II traveled the world to directly speak to the 
issues that confronted society. Whereas previous pontiffs often 
remained distant, never straying far from the Vatican, John Paul 
maintained a busy travel schedule. He completed 102 pastoral visits 
outside of Italy, and 144 within, visiting almost 130 countries during 
his 26 years as Pope. He logged more kilometers of travel than all 
other popes combined. His first visit as pope was to his homeland of 
Poland which was still beset by Communist rule. He advocated for the 
solidarity movement and he pushed for change, but he insisted above all 
else that any movement in order to be successful must be peaceful. 
It was Pope John Paul who aptly stated that: ``Social justice cannot be 
attained by violence. Violence kills what it intends to create.'' His 
influence and guiding hand brought down the rule of Communism in Poland 
and ushered in a new era throughout Europe and indeed much of the 
world. I was honored to recently have meetings with both former Polish 
President Lech Walesa and current President Aleksander Kwasniewski and 
it seems clear that together with the Pope's influence Poland was able 
to transform from an oppressive communist country under strict Soviet 
control and with a weak economy to an independent and democratic 
country with a fast growing free-market economy. The end of communism 
fell like a series of dominoes in nations throughout the world and 
truly Pope John Paul was among the most influential in setting off 
these series of events.

  Pope John Paul also used his travel to improve relations between the 
Vatican and people of other faiths. He grew up in an area of Poland 
where he lived next to many people of Jewish faith during the era of 
Nazi persecution where he saw his Jewish neighbors face brutality. As 
Pope he wrote and delivered a number of speeches on the subject of the 
Church's relationship with Jews, and often paid homage to the victims 
of the Holocaust in many nations. He was the first pope to have visited 
Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, in 1979 and his visit to the 
Synagogue of Rome was the first by a pope in the history of the 
Catholic Church. In March 2000, Pope John Paul II went to the Holocaust 
memorial Yad Vashem in Israel and touched the holiest shrine of the 
Jewish people, the Western Wall in Jerusalem, promoting Christian-
Jewish reconciliation. The Pope said at that time that Jews are ``our 
older brothers''. Pope John Paul was also the first Pope to visit a 
Muslim Mosque when he traveled to Damascus, Syria. He used his position 
of influence to bring people of all faiths together and for that we 
should be grateful.
  At each stop he made as Pope he reiterated that we only have one 
lifetime to live and that we must ensure that we use this time to 
achieve peace instead of suffering in war. It was Pope John Paul who 
stated: ``War is a defeat for humanity.'' And that ``Wars generally do 
not resolve the problems for which they are fought and therefore . . . 
prove ultimately futile.'' His words certainly ring true for the 
present, as well as the past and future. Indeed, Pope John Paul II was 
a great man for all ages; it was he who stated: ``The future starts 
today, not tomorrow.'' His presence and stature will be missed and we 
are right to mourn this great man. However, the Pope John Paul would be 
the first to tell us that the future is now and we must continue to 
move forward. We must all use his words and the lessons learned to help 
guide future generations. Because while the issues of society may 
change over time, the basic spirit of humanity never does.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority leader.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for offering this 
resolution.
  From the darkness, Mr. Speaker, came the words, ``Be not afraid.'' A 
quarter century on, through tearful eyes, we behold the man, Karol 
Wojtyla, who with gentle vigor willed history toward the splendor of 
truth.
  Born to an age of man and an era of oppression, John Paul II gave 
witness to all who would be free that the Author of History was too the 
Author of Liberty. As a secret seminarian witnessing the Nazi 
occupation of Poland, the Third Reich wanted him arrested. As a bishop 
witnessing the Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, the politburo 
wanted him dead. And as Holy Father witnessing the degradation of human 
life, the culture of death wanted him silenced.
  Yet in the face of their threats, not despite them but because of 
them, his voice rang out all the louder and his heart beat all the 
stronger in love for the children of God. He battled tyranny his whole 
life, tyrannies of the sword and of the heart, that the world, his 
universal flock, might throw off the yoke of evil and embrace the love 
of God's truth.
  Against violence, oppression, materialism and hatred, John Paul 
defended

[[Page H1812]]

the dignity of human life with a warm voice and an iron will. He was 
the rock upon which a generation of Catholics built their churches and 
the walking symbol of faith, hope and charity that fuels the Christian 
heart. Much has been rightly said of John Paul's role in the victory of 
freedom over tyranny in the East; but much more will be said, Mr. 
Speaker, of his eventual role in the victory of freedom over license in 
the West. For the culture of life is the culture of John Paul II.
  In his later years, the Pope gave perhaps his most profound witness 
to the dignity of human life as he carried age and disease around on 
his back like a cross. He stumbled along the way, like his Savior, but 
he never put it down.
  In his final days, as his long-suffering body began to fail, pilgrims 
came to his home at the Vatican to pray and to share this particular 
moment in the history of faith. And still they come. Around the world, 
billions of every creed are treated to photographs of John Paul as a 
child in Poland, as a young actor, and a priest. We see footage from 
his decades in Rome, the smiling face, the graceful, athletic frame, 
the gentle voice that roared truth to power.
  It is in these images, Mr. Speaker, that the grace of his late 
suffering can be fully understood. He gave to his God and neighbor all 
that he had, all his heart, all his mind, all his soul, until there was 
nothing left to give but his broken, weary body which he gave with a 
prayer of joy and a soft, final amen.
  Thus shall we remember our friend John Paul, warrior-saint, the Lion 
of Krakow.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).
  (Mr. FORTENBERRY asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, let me add my voice to the millions of 
Americans and people throughout the world who now mourn the loss of 
Pope John Paul II. He was an extraordinary man of great courage and 
conviction of faith. His life was consumed in sacrifice, out of love of 
God and love of others; and he reminded us constantly of the duty we 
have to the least among us, the poor, the vulnerable, the weak who have 
no power but the protection of those who willfully sacrifice on their 
behalf.
  Pope John Paul II not only confronted physical deprivation but also 
intellectual and spiritual poverty. His constant admonishment to us, 
particularly those of us in power, to rebuild a culture of life is a 
message so desperately needed in our world. He had a heart for the 
youth and traveled extensively to bring a message of hope and love, 
saying to the young especially, act courageously and do not be afraid.
  Mr. Speaker, I will miss him. America will miss him. The world will 
miss him. I now believe that he hears the words, Well done, good and 
faithful servant.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), our Democratic 
leader and my friend and neighbor who will be one of the leaders of the 
congressional delegation leaving for Rome.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for 
yielding me this time and for his kind words. It is indeed a privilege 
to be part of a delegation to the funeral of the Holy Father. I also 
thank the distinguished chairman of the committee. I know how much he 
respected and admired the Holy Father. I thank him for his leadership 
in helping us express our condolences as well.
  Mr. Speaker, my mother used to always say of John Paul II, ``He is a 
saint walking the Earth.'' Indeed, he was. It is in that spirit and 
with deep sadness at his passing but with great thanks and joy for his 
life of good works that I rise today to join my colleagues in paying 
tribute to Pope John Paul II.

                              {time}  1500

  Pope John Paul II was one of the great spiritual and humanitarian 
leaders of our time. His deeds, his words and his indomitable spirit of 
love were a blessing to this world, and the entire world mourns his 
passing.
  Again, I am very honored to be part of the congressional delegation 
to the Pope's funeral on Friday, and I hope that our delegation can 
help convey the thoughts, prayers, and deep sympathies of the American 
people on his passing. We will be pleased to join our President in 
doing that.
  Pope John Paul II was a man of God, and he was a man of the people. 
He was passionate in his commitment to doing God's work here on Earth. 
St. Francis of Assisi, who was the patron saint of my city of San 
Francisco, said, ``Preach often, sometimes use words.'' The life of 
John Paul II was a sermon he preached every day by example. His 
ministry fed the hungry, cared for the sick, and invited the stranger. 
He was a champion for the poor, promoting justice and economic 
development around the world. His work built on the legacy of Pope Paul 
VI, not his immediate predecessor, except for 33 days his predecessor, 
who believed, ``If you want peace, work for justice.'' Pope John Paul 
II helped to bring justice and healing to the relationship between 
Catholics and Jews, and I know how important that is to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Lantos). His commitment to nonviolence and to 
peace on Earth was heartfelt and steadfast.
  With a concern and caring for all of God's children, John Paul II 
reached out to people of all ages, nationalities, and faiths. As we all 
know, he traveled to so many countries in his service as Pope, and he 
spent more than 2 years in his papacy outside of Rome. I like to say 
that he was aptly named John Paul: John, the Apostle of love, and Paul, 
who preached the Gospel to such a wide range of people in the earliest 
days of Christendom. In doing so himself, Pope John Paul II brought the 
redemptive message of the Catholic Church to places it had never been, 
and he inspired millions of individuals who saw in his conviction and 
in his example the light of God.
  He had a special bond with the youth of the world. I remember when I 
met him in San Francisco when he came there, and it was so exciting for 
us to welcome the Holy Father, and when he landed at Crissey Field in a 
helicopter, it was so dramatic. And when I met him, our Archbishop, 
Archbishop Quinn, said, as we were chatting, ``Your Holiness, I have 
confirmed the Congresswoman's children.'' And he said, ``That's good, 
that's good.'' And he said, ``Your Holiness, I have confirmed the 
Congresswoman's five children.'' And he said, ``That's very good, 
that's very good.''
  And as I said, he had a special bond with the youth of the world. He 
spoke with them as a spiritual leader, but also as a teacher and as a 
friend. The guidance he offered to today's youth will benefit the world 
for years to come.
  Likewise, his influence on world events will be felt for generations. 
John Paul II played an enormous role in the fall of communism and 
ending the Cold War, and that has been mentioned here. He was a man of 
peace. As a priest in Poland, he waged a persistent struggle for nearly 
three decades against the Communist Government over the building of 
churches and the right of his people to worship as they choose. He 
continued that work as Pope, inspiring the Polish people and the 
Solidarity movement, and offering spiritual strength to others working 
to free themselves from Communist regimes.
  In his later years, the Pope offered the world a very different but 
significant form of inspiration. Suffering from Parkinson's disease and 
with failing health, he struggled until the end to share God's word. He 
taught us about the dignity of every individual and showed us that we 
must always seek to make a difference on this Earth.
  It is written in the Book of Genesis, ``Thou shalt go to thy fathers 
in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.'' John Paul II is 
with our Father now. We were blessed that he preached peace in this 
world for so long.
  As we honor his memory, as we sing his praises, we must also heed his 
message. The Catholic Church recently gave us a guide, the compendium 
of Catholic social justice, for how we can address some of the issues 
the previous speaker talked about, addressing the needs of the poor, 
the vulnerable, and the weak. President Bush mentioned that when he 
gave His Holiness the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he mentioned that 
he had championed the

[[Page H1813]]

work for the poor, the vulnerable, the needy, he said, and the weak. We 
must do that in our work here. It would then be an appropriate honor 
and remembrance for the life, leadership, service, and holiness.
  My mother said, as I said in the beginning, he is a saint walking 
this Earth. Anyone who was ever in his presence knew they were in the 
presence of a holy man. Because he lived and we observed him, we have a 
responsibility to follow his lead.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart).
  Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for 
yielding me this time, and my colleagues who are so eloquently 
expressing the impact that Pope John Paul II has had on all of us and 
on the world, and hopefully on all of us here in this House.
  He became Pope in 1979, when I was a teenager. In a quiet Catholic 
community, one that was quietly prayerful, quietly service-oriented, 
but quietly, he inspired us not to be so quiet. He inspired us to 
change that quiet prayer into exuberant song. He inspired us to get 
involved, to step out of the churches, step out of our own communities, 
and give more direct service, become more directly involved with those 
afflicted with illness, with those afflicted in poverty, with those 
with other problems, emotional concerns, and active the Church became.
  I could not even describe the difference in the church I grew up in 
in Pittsburgh from 1979 to today, inspired by Pope John Paul II. Young 
people, everyone mentions that the Pope has a very close connection 
with young people. World Youth Days around the world were so widely 
attended from children around the world that it gives me great hope for 
the future of the world.
  A young priest at my church, who is now probably about 33 or 34, had 
taken a delegation to the World Youth Day last year or the year before 
and had come back with a pretty amazing story. In this world of 
corporal comfort, one of the young men in the group had complained to 
him that it was so crowded, he had to stand next to a pile of stinking 
garbage in the hot sunshine. And he was waiting and waiting and 
smelling the garbage and waiting and thinking, why am I here? This is 
so uncomfortable. And then finally the Holy Father took the podium. It 
was raining, it was wet. But when the Holy Father took the podium, the 
sun shown through. This young man conveyed to my priest what I think 
was the Holy Father's point all along. This world is not perfect. This 
world can be made more perfect through our action, our prayer, our 
involvement. This young man, I am sure to this day, is a very faithful 
and active Catholic and a faithful and active servant, one whose 
attitude that day was transformed from himself to generosity and 
interest in others, one that I hope we all take as his legacy.
  A man who grew up in such a difficult time, in a difficult oppressive 
time, in an area where obviously his faith was not quite permitted, was 
such an inspiration to world leaders, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, 
working hand in hand with them because he understood that the 
fundamental connection between redemption and human freedom was real, 
and he needed to participate. He showed us that every human has value. 
His own personal suffering is a testament to the vital sacredness of 
all human life.
  He called special attention to the unborn. We still struggle in not 
paying enough attention to the unborn. Just recently we demonstrated, 
unfortunately, how our society does not pay close enough attention or 
concern to the incapacitated, the infirm. I hope this reflection today 
will help us do so.
  The Pope said that each man in his suffering can also become a sharer 
in the redemptive suffering of Christ. We are wise to remember him, his 
legacy, especially his teaching, through his powerful words, but mostly 
through his powerful actions.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Beauprez).
  Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Chairman Hyde) for all of his leadership, especially for bringing this 
resolution to the floor today, but for all of his leadership throughout 
the years. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) as well 
for his leadership, similarly a champion of justice and a compassionate 
individual who speaks with tremendous moral clarity.
  Mr. Speaker, I am saddened today, as a lifelong Catholic, at the 
thought of the death of our great Holy Father, John Paul II. As I stand 
in the well of this Chamber, it also strikes me as curiously ironic 
that we come to commemorate the life of John Paul II, who spoke with 
enormous moral clarity, and I stand staring at the image of Moses, the 
first of our lawgivers, who defined moral clarity for us in those early 
beginnings of civilization and humanity.
  The early years for John Paul II were a journey of hardship and 
sacrifice. Born Karol Wojtyla in a small town outside of Krakow in 
1920, the same year of my mother's birth, by the way, he was the second 
of two sons. His mother died when he was but 9 years old, and by the 
time he was 21, he had lost his dear brother and his father as well.
  Young Karol found himself alone. He worked in a rock quarry and then 
a chemical factory to earn a living and to avoid being deported to Nazi 
Germany. To fulfill a wish that his father had, young Karol began 
preparing to give his life to the Lord by studying at an underground, 
clandestine seminary in Krakow, doing so in secret to avoid the wrath 
of the Nazis. His faith and belief in God eventually led him to the 
very chair of St. Peter. As the head of the Holy See, a position he 
held for more than 26 years, he led his flock longer than any other 
Pope and certainly longer than any in recent memory.
  I was always humbled by this man who was able to exert so much 
influence on the politics of our world and the direction of mankind, 
yet had the ability to do so with such a quiet, gentle hand.
  One must look no further than the collapse of the Soviet Empire for 
an example of how much influence he had. While no one person can claim 
that they were the lone force behind the collapse of communism, there 
should be no argument that the extent to which John Paul II played in 
defining it and defeating it was enormous. Along with another great man 
of his era, Ronald Reagan, they confronted their adversaries face to 
face and helped defeat this evil, and did so without war.

                              {time}  1515

  This man of God, who was once an avid outdoorsman, who skied and 
hiked the Italian mountainside, who aggressively traveled the globe 
more than any other Pope, became almost like a family member to 
everyone in the world, regardless of faith.
  He embraced the modern media. John Paul entered the homes and touched 
the hearts of countless millions with his message of love, truth, 
devotion, and courage. He was unwavering in his defense of all life, 
limitless in his forgiveness, including of his own would-be assassin, 
and without peer as he embraced all the world's faiths and humbly asked 
forgiveness from our Jewish brethren for a Church and a world that did 
too little for too long.
  Those of us privileged to serve in this hallowed Chamber have the 
opportunity to meet presidents, prime ministers, kings and queens, the 
famous and the fortunate of the world. Twice I was in the presence of 
this Pope, in 1993 in Denver and at the Vatican in 1995.
  I submit, Mr. Speaker, that the essence of this humble man from 
Krakow transcended humanity. His essence emanated peace, holiness and a 
sense that surrounding him was a glimpse to all of us of our Creator's 
promise for eternity. Without so much as a single word, his spirit 
overwhelmed all who witnessed his being.
  ``Be not afraid'' became the motto of his remarkable Papacy. Inspired 
by his commitment to peace, freedom, compassion for the poor and 
oppressed and for a culture of life, may we also carry on his legacy of 
truth in our very own lives.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my 
friend, the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), a member 
of the Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member and 
my good friend for yielding me time;

[[Page H1814]]

and I rise, of course, in support of this resolution, as have all my 
colleagues.
  Pope John Paul was an exceptional person. While one would expect all 
kinds of accolades to come at this time, the accolades that come for 
him are truly heartfelt and truly deserved.
  I had the occasion to meet him my very first year in Congress in 1989 
in the Vatican. There is a picture that was taken of us talking. It 
looks like we are in very serious talk, and I am opening my mouth and 
speaking with him. People have always said to me when they see that 
picture, My goodness, what were you saying to the Pope?
  The truth is that those of us that were in the first row, the Pope is 
moving along shaking our hands. He shook my hand. I said to him, I am 
Congressman Elliot Engel from New York. He looked at me and smiled and 
said, God bless America, and moved on to the next person. That is the 
remembrance I have of him.
  He certainly was a compassionate man, someone who really cared about 
the people. Of course, he was the first non-Italian Pope in nearly 500 
years. I had the occasion just a couple of weeks ago to visit Krakow, 
Poland, where he came from and where he did his ministry in his early 
years; and the people there, of course, have special, warm feelings for 
him.
  I want to mention, as so many of my colleagues have, the Pope's 
tremendous gestures of reconciliation with the Jewish community, both 
in terms of anti-Semitism and going to Israel and having the Vatican 
and Israel establish diplomatic relations. He was a person that not 
only spoke his mind, but he put into play practical steps; and 
certainly the Church was on record as opposing, actively opposing, 
anti-Semitism under his watch.
  So on behalf of my constituents and on behalf of the people of New 
York and on behalf of the American people, I just want to extend, first 
of all, my heartfelt condolences to everyone who is mourning, and all 
of us are mourning the Pope, and say that his life has truly touched 
all of us, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. He is a man that we will 
always remember and one who we will certainly always miss.
  I also take my hat off to this great tribute that this House is now 
giving by passing this resolution to honor Pope John Paul II.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 15 seconds to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gingrey). The gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) is recognized for such time as he may 
consume.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my 
colleagues and the millions, if not billions, of people throughout the 
world in celebrating the life of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and 
support the resolution and thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman 
Hyde) for presenting it.
  Mr. Speaker, no one at the time in 1978 expected Cardinal Wojtyla to 
be elected the Keeper of the Keys to the Church. In his election as 
Pope, John Paul II became the first non-Italian Pope in 405 years of 
Papal history.
  John Paul II was truly the People's Pope. Throughout his Pontificate, 
John Paul II traveled the world, visiting over 115 countries on 170 
trips. It was with the people that Pope John Paul II connected the 
most. He called upon the world to embrace freedom and human dignity. In 
doing so, the Pope will be remembered for his role as peacemaker, 
instrumental in the fall of communism in Europe and the liberation of 
his own native Poland.
  But the Pope also called on the world's religions to open their doors 
to each other. Drawing from his own experiences in Nazi-occupied 
Poland, the Pope advocated interfaith dialogue. He became the first 
Pope to enter a synagogue and embraced the leaders in Islam. His work 
to expand communication between the faiths has brought together a 
generation of the devoted, and our world is a better place for it.
  During an open-air mass in St. Peter's Square in 1998, the Pope asked 
of himself, Have you been a diligent and vigilant master of the Church? 
Have you tried to satisfy the expectations of the faithful of the 
Church and also the hunger for truth that we feel in the world outside 
the Church?
  Although he did not answer then, we can answer for him today. Yes, 
yes, you have.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to my good 
friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the distinguished 
majority whip.
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos), for yielding me time to speak on this 
important issue.
  As has been said many times on the floor today, we celebrate the life 
of a man who truly changed the world. If I were going to start a list 
of people who freed other people in the 20th century, I would put the 
names of Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, and John 
Paul II at the beginning of that list.
  This is a man whose life defied all logic and reason, because his 
life was about something bigger than logic and reason. His life was 
about faith, and faith is bigger than those things. If you wrote this 
individual's story in a book as a novel, it would seem too unreasonable 
to be the subject of that novel.
  Born in an obscure part of Poland, he resisted the Nazi occupation of 
his country and led a resistance that exceeded anything we could 
imagine as the leader of the Church in Poland under the Soviet Union. 
All of us who were thinking about world events or even were just amazed 
at what was happening in the world have to remember that first trip 
back behind the Iron Curtain in 1980, and seeing tens and hundreds of 
thousands of people come to see this individual, defying their 
government as he defied their government, and the sudden realization to 
most of us in the West that there was something going on behind the 
Iron Curtain and in the Soviet Union and particularly in Eastern Europe 
that we really had not realized to be as big as it was.
  This is an individual who, to my amazement, was seen by more people 
than any other person who has ever lived. As you think about the 
quarter of a century of his leadership of the Church, the tens of 
thousands and hundreds of thousands and even millions of people that 
would see John Paul II at one time, more people saw him than ever saw 
anybody else in the history of the world.
  His impact was great. His leadership was strong, his reaching out to 
people of all faiths, particularly his ecumenical reach to all 
Christians. As a Baptist, I appreciate the leadership of this Pope. He 
reached out to all Christian faiths, but he also reached beyond 
Christian faiths to people of all faiths as no Pope ever had before.
  We celebrate his life. He stood for something bigger than the 
tangible things that we so often think about and deal with. It is a 
great honor to be able to stand here on the floor of the House where 
people reflect on freedom every day, and reflect on the life of this 
man who did so much to extend freedom of all kinds, with the freedom of 
religion being the most important of those, to so many people around 
the world.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in concluding on our side, may I just say that for the 
last hour you have heard an outpouring of genuine affection and respect 
and admiration for a great spiritual leader. These were not empty 
phrases. These were heartfelt thoughts and expressions of profound 
respect for a person who in a profound way has changed our world for 
the better.
  In concluding, I again want to thank my friend for crafting this 
brilliant and moving resolution on which we are about to vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) for his usual superb cooperation, and I wish to associate 
myself with his remarks in closing.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 190, a 
measure honoring the life and achievements of His Holiness, Pope John 
Paul II, and expressing profound sorrow on his death. It is with great 
honor that I stand here today to pay tribute to Pope John Paul II and 
recognize his contributions to the causes of freedom, human dignity, 
and peace.

[[Page H1815]]

  The leadership the Holy Father displayed during his 26-year tenure as 
Supreme Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church helped to shape our moral 
conscience. His fight to end human rights abuses and his opposition to 
communism not only influenced the Catholic community, but the world 
community. He was a defender of the faith whose leadership during a 
pivotal time was profound. I am truly awed by the life of the Holy 
Father.
  Born Karol Jozef Wojtyla, Jr. in 1920, Pope John Paul II was the 
second son of Karol Wojtyla, Sr. and Emilia Kaczorwoska Wojtyla. Karol, 
Sr. was a retired officer for the Polish Army as well as a tailor, and 
Emilia was a schoolteacher. Pope John Paul II repeatedly demonstrated 
his unique ability to form friendships that crossed the social norms of 
the time. Although his hometown of Wadowice, Poland was wrought with 
anti-Semitism, Pope John Paul II and his family did not share in that 
hatred. He was the first Pope to visit a synagogue and the first to 
visit a memorial in nearby Auschwitz honoring victims of the Holocaust. 
His Holiness was also the first Pope to visit a mosque.
  Shortly after his father's death in 1941, Pope John Paul II attended 
an underground seminary in Krakow, where he was eventually ordained in 
1946. His powerful compassion and faith carried him quickly up the 
ranks of the Church as he was named the auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 
1958. He was instrumental to the Vatican Council II deliberations in 
1962, which encouraged diversity in language and practice of the 
Catholic faith in order to facilitate the inclusion of laymen in 
worship while also condemning anti-Semitism around the world. The 
profound respect he enjoyed throughout the Catholic community led to 
his election as Pope after the death of Pope John Paul I in September 
1978, making him the first Slavic Pope in history.
  Less than a year after being named Pope, John Paul II returned to his 
native Poland and forcefully supported the Polish Solidarity movement 
and opposed communism. His insistence that no system of government 
override religious beliefs gave hope to people of faith throughout the 
former Soviet Union that reforms would take place. The courage and 
determination that he displayed in opposition to a world power 
reflected the strength of his convictions and his willingness to stand 
up to an institutional force that challenged the beliefs of the church.
  Pope John Paul II was an indomitable figure despite increasing 
infirmities. Though he survived an assassination attempt in 1981, his 
health was never quite the same. However, his warmth and compassion 
shone brightly to all who met him and quickly endeared him to young 
people around the world. He is said to have been seen by more people 
than anyone else in history, exemplifying his connection to ordinary 
people. He was an unwavering moral leader whose power and appeal 
derived from the way he lived his life. He demonstrated this when he 
prayed for his would-be assassin.
  Pope John Paul II was also an intellectual, a pragmatist, and a 
scholar who was a defender of liberty. His charisma and his ability to 
lead were intertwined with his status as the ``People's Pope.'' He 
forged a bond with people of all faiths by projecting his warmth and 
compassion beyond his flock. Pope John Paul II's life provided strong 
moral leadership during a pivotal time in history that enabled the fall 
of communism and the victory of liberty. The world was truly blessed to 
have Pope John Paul II.
  Mr. Speaker, during his 26 years as pontiff, Pope John Paul II spread 
the Catholic faith with visits to over 115 countries. His gift for 
uniting those of different beliefs earned him Man of the Year honors 
from Time Magazine in 1994, and his popularity among both Catholics and 
non-Catholics around the world was a testament to his genuine love for 
humanity. His teaching of tolerance and love for thy neighbor will be a 
lasting legacy for this truly great religious leader.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to honor the life and 
work of Pope John Paul II and to offer my condolences to Catholics 
around the globe who mourn the death of their spiritual leader. For 26 
years Pope John Paul II was a faithful Shepard to his flock and acted 
as a primary example of peace and justice to millions of all faiths.
  Trained as an actor, Pope John Paul II used the world stage to 
promote his message of social justice and freedom for all of God's 
people. Upon his election to the Papacy, Pope John Paul made one of his 
many journeys home to his native Poland. It was upon that journey that 
the Pope defiantly preached against the oppressive tyranny of communism 
and promoted messages of solidarity and freedom. In uttering the simple 
words, ``Be Not Afraid'', John Paul II offered courage to hundreds 
across Eastern Europe to break free from the chains of communism.
  Despite the illness that plagued him in the later part of his life, 
John Paul II never faltered in fighting against injustice and in 
protecting the most innocent in our society. Indeed, it was in the 
Pope's very public suffering that we are reminded of the dignity of 
every human life from conception until natural death. Mr. Speaker, 
today we join together to honor the life of a true servant of God. 
While we mourn Pope John Paul II and are filled with sorrow at his 
passing, we also rejoice in knowing that he has returned home to his 
Father.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great man of the 
Catholic faith and a hero to those of all faiths. I was deeply saddened 
to learn of the death of Pope John Paul II. I join the millions of 
people around the world that have been mourning the loss of this great 
man and great spiritual and moral leader who stood firmly for the 
oppressed, for the downtrodden, and for people of all faiths around the 
world.
  Pope John Paul II was a great man, and a strong advocate for 
equality. He spoke out time and time again against discrimination and 
injustice in all its forms. He believed in the ``right to have a family 
and to have an adequately paying job'' and that everyone should be able 
``to exist, preserve and develop one's own culture.'' His compassion 
for his fellow man and woman was overtly obvious.
  Pope John Paul II has spread the word of God and the gospel to the 
world. He was the most traveled Pope in history as he brought these 
ideas across the globe, especially to the world's poorest people on the 
continents of Asia, South America, and Africa. He was the only pope to 
have visited a Caribbean country and has held mass in a host of Central 
and South American countries. In the last two decades under the 
Pontiff, the number of Catholics in Africa has doubled and the Pope has 
visited over a dozen countries on the continent. He appointed nearly 
two dozen cardinals from Latin America and the Caribbean, including 
Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras and Claudio Hummes of 
Brazil, and thirteen from Africa, including Francis Arinze of Nigeria.
  Citing the commitment to social justice in the Old Testament, the 
Pope was a long-time champion of debt relief. In 1994, he called on the 
United States and other nations to forgive the debts of 40 of the 
world's poorest countries; to fight vigilantly against hunger, poverty, 
and disease; and to establish programs to build sound economic policies 
in those countries.
  Though he mourned September 11th with the rest of the world, the Pope 
steadfastly believed that peace, not war, is the path to creating a 
safer world for all. He was an outspoken critic of the Iraqi war and 
called on international leaders to find a peaceful mechanism to address 
their differences.
  Pope John Paul II worked to ease the centuries' old tensions between 
the Catholic Church and Jews. He was the first Pope to visit a 
concentration camp and was also the first Pope to visit a synagogue, 
calling Jews ``our eldest brothers.'' He has repeatedly tried to keep 
the Catholic Church morally grounded in its advocacy but adaptive to 
changes in the world.
  Not only was he a spiritual leader and warrior for civil rights of 
universal renown, but he was also an intellectual powerhouse. He was 
capable of speaking to his people in multiple languages. He wrote 
volumes on the philosophies of mankind and the virtues of faith.
  Personally, I have always respected and admired the Pope for his 
humanitarianism and empathy for others. He led by example and marked a 
path of principle and conviction. During my second meeting in 1987 with 
the pontiff, I was humbled to hear his views and thoughts on drug 
eradication and other contemporary issues. For over a half century, he 
had implored the international community to think with grace, act with 
compassion, and behave with deep regard and respect for our fellow man.
  In his many decades of service as the head of the Catholic Church, 
Pope John Paul II has done tremendous good for both the Catholic Church 
and the people of the world. He was a man who commanded my sincere 
respect, and his loss will be felt by me for many, many years to come. 
Pope John Paul II was a man who in death, as in life, was an 
inspiration and guide to us all.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
expressing my sadness at the death of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul 
II. Since 1978, he piously served as the head of the Roman Catholic 
Church and was an inspiration to Catholics and non-Catholics across the 
world.
  It could be said that the Pope was a true ``Renaissance Man''--with a 
love for literature, art, and music. Once he entered the priesthood, 
his passion for poetry and the written word did not wane. He continued 
writing about issues close to his heart, including peace, oppression 
and spirituality.
  Immediately following his inauguration, Pope John Paul II began 
traveling the world. He brought global attention to the communist and 
socialist governments of his native Poland and other parts of Eastern 
Europe, and called for reform and changes. During World War II, he

[[Page H1816]]

saw first-hand the low points of humanity's cruelty to one another and 
throughout his pontificate vowed to halt tyranny and hatred. His 
peaceful opposition to human rights violations will always be 
remembered and will continue to be an inspiration to us all.
  He committed his life to his faith, and was instrumental in bringing 
attention to peace and justice, poverty and disease, and each 
individual's connection to one another. As a Catholic myself, I admired 
Pope John Paul II for his devotion to God, his involvement with global 
issues, and his ability to bridge gaps between the Church and its past. 
I join millions of others in mourning his passing.
  The Holy Father will be missed, but he now joins the Father he served 
so dutifully during his life on earth. I urge all of my colleagues to 
support this resolution and honor this great man.
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and 
legacy of Pope John Paul II. His life will serve as an inspiration to 
all those who seek to make this a more peaceable and unified world.
  Born in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Wojtyla did not know the challenges 
that life would present to him, or that he would confront these 
challenges with great courage. His mother passed away when he was nine 
years old, followed by his brother several years later. It was during 
this time that his faith in God strengthened and he began his journey 
towards the papacy. Karol Wojtyla quietly studied to become a priest 
during the Nazi occupation of his beloved Poland, and in November 1946 
he was ordained a priest.
  During his service as a priest and later as Archbishop of Krakow, 
Father Wojtyla actively defied the Communist regimes that were 
attempting to end religious worship throughout Poland. In 1967, he was 
made a Cardinal and on October 16, 1978 he was elected as the 264th 
Pope of the Catholic Church and took the name Pope John Paul II in 
honor of the three pontiffs who preceded him.
  During his papacy, Pope John Paul II showed the world the strength of 
his character that the people of Poland had known for years. In May 
1981, he survived an assassination attempt and later met with his would 
be assassin and forgave him. This example of absolution showed the 
world the true nature of this man and the power of faith.
  Pope John Paul II was instrumental in defeating Communist regimes 
throughout Eastern Europe. His support for the Solidarity Movement in 
Poland helped create a domino effect throughout Europe as people chose 
democracy over Communism.
  His work to foster ecumenism throughout the world's principle 
religions will also be a part of his lasting legacy. Pope John Paul II 
was the first pope to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem and asked for 
forgiveness from the Jewish people for wrongs the Catholic Church had 
committed against them. He also reached out to Muslims and visited with 
leaders of the Islamic faith.
  As the most traveled Pope in history, John Paul II brought his 
message of hope to millions of people in 129 countries. He was also 
able to make a connection with the youth of the world that no other 
Pope had achieved. He recognized the importance of young people to not 
only continuing the life of the church, but also sustaining the future 
of our world. He championed human rights and justice for the poorest 
people in the developing world to the youth he met with throughout his 
papacy. I am hopeful that when the young people he touched with his 
words and actions become leaders in our world they will continue this 
message of hope.
  Mr. Speaker, Pope John Paul II taught the world many important 
lessons. He taught us to forgive, to stand up for the rights of all 
people, and how to create change peacefully. He has touched many lives, 
and will continue to do so even after his passing. As we reflect on his 
legacy and the spiritual guidance he offered, may people of faith 
everywhere take guidance from the values he instilled in our world.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 190, which honors the life and achievements of Pope John Paul II.
  Pope John Paul II was a man of devout faith who used his leadership 
to help the poor, mediate conflicts around the world, and fight 
tyranny. As a man who fought both the Nazi and the Communist regime in 
Poland in pursuit of his own faith, he was a strong advocate for 
religious tolerance and freedom. His life's work is truly inspiring to 
all of us.
  As the most traveled Pope in history, Pope John Paul II visited more 
than 120 countries and traveled approximately three quarter of a 
million miles. During these visits he worked to bring peace to regions 
of the world that were in conflict. He embraced the poor and the 
oppressed across the world by encouraging us to help those who are less 
fortunate.
  His hope for a better world for those who had nothing should remind 
us all as Pope John Paul II said to ``practice mercy heroically with 
the lowliest and the most deprived.'' Pope John Paul II was able to 
rise above political and religious conflict to deliver a message of 
peace, love, and faith all while promoting equality for all.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of the 
most influential Popes in modern history. Pope John Paul II was born 
Karol Jozef Wojityla on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland.
  During his childhood the Pope was very athletic and an exemplary 
student. He had a passion for the outdoors and the theatre. In 1942 he 
felt a calling to the church. He was ordained a priest at the age of 
26. Subsequently, he served as Archbishop of Krakow, Poland and was 
appointed a Cardinal.
  On October 16, 1978, Cardinal Wojityla became Pope John Paul II. He 
opened the door for future non-Italian Popes as he was the first since 
Adrian VI in 1522. He was also the first Pope of Polish ethnicity.
  Pope John Paul II impacted people of all ages world wide, especially 
young people. Creating World Youth Day in 1986, the Pope showed his 
commitment to young people worldwide. His hope was to instill the 
values of freedom, hope; truth, and justice in youth so they could work 
towards bettering the future of humanity.
  Religious tolerance and acceptance were Pope John Paul's core ideals. 
He had a profound respect for other religions. During his childhood, he 
had many Jewish friends and expressed a long-standing respect for the 
Jewish faith. He expressed sorrow for historic hostilities toward Jews 
and prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Judaism's most Holy site. 
John Paul II was also the first Pope to visit a Mosque and visited more 
than 20 Islamic countries. Pope John Paul II went to great lengths to 
encourage religious tolerance. In 1986 the Pope invited a diverse group 
of 90 religious leaders to Assisi, Italy to pray and recognize the role 
world religions have in promoting understanding and tolerance.
  An advocate for human rights, peace and justice, the Pope was the 
most traveled pope in history. He visited over 120 countries in every 
continent except Antarctica and met with a diverse group of World 
Leaders. Pope John Paul II was the first Pope to meet with the 
President of the United States. His commitment to the love of people 
and the love of his religion transcended political boundaries. In 1998 
Pope John Paul II became one of the first leaders to visit communist 
Cuba and meet with Fidel Castro.
  Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005.
  Pope John Paul's II captivating personality and commitment to the 
church and humanity ingratiated him into the hearts of millions of 
people worldwide. The members of the House of Representatives remain 
mindful of John Paul's II message of tolerance, hope, peace, and 
justice.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Pope 
John Paul II, who traveled the world for twenty-six years and touched 
billions of lives. In the countries he visited, he delivered a message 
of peace and reminded the world about the power of love for all 
humanity. As the leader of the Catholic Church, he worked toward the 
fall of communism and spread hope to millions of oppressed people. One 
of the most influential figures of the modern era, this son of Poland 
taught us to respect human life in all forms. His legacy will be felt 
for generations to come. His actions in life and his strength in death 
have inspired people of all faiths. I join with billions around the 
world who mourn the loss and celebrate the life of this great man.
  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply saddened to 
learn that the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, passed away on April 
2nd. This extraordinary man touched millions across the world with his 
dynamic, courageous and compassionate leadership. I know that we in the 
United States join a global community in mourning this great and 
blessed man.
  From his humble beginnings in Poland, Pope John Paul II became the 
first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years and one of the most beloved 
figures in recent memory to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The 
first pope to visit a synagogue and a mosque, he will be remembered as 
a spiritual leader who worked tirelessly to bring people of all faiths 
together. His papacy helped stem the tide of communism in Poland and 
Eastern Europe. His ministry on behalf of the poor and the sick is well 
known by worshipers worldwide.
  One of the most moving moments I've ever experienced was seeing the 
pope speak to hundreds of thousands of Cubans at an outdoor mass in 
Havana in 1998. He delivered a message of religious tolerance, social 
justice, and human rights in the country of Fidel Castro. His powerful 
presence and words in Revolutionary Square were greeted by thunderous 
applause from the Cuban people. It was a special event I'll never 
forget.
  During his historic first visit to the United States in 1979, the 
pope famously told the crowd in Boston that ``the pope is your 
friend.'' Now we say goodbye to a man of hope, a

[[Page H1817]]

man of faith and a man of dignity. Today we say goodbye to our friend. 
May he rest in peace.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join San Antonio and the 
world in mourning the passing of Pope John Paul II, a great religious 
and humanitarian leader.
  Pope John Paul II was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 in 
Wadowice, Poland. He excelled in school as a brilliant student and 
athlete, gaining a passion for religion, poetry, and the theatre.
  He was ordained in 1946, assuming priestly duties in 1949 as chaplain 
to university students at Krakow's St. Florian's Church. He rose 
steadily through the church hierarchy, becoming the auxiliary bishop of 
Krakow in 1958 and was later appointed archbishop of Krakow in January 
1964.
  During this time he made a name for himself as a formidable 
theologian and staunch defender of the Catholic faith as he taught at 
the Krakow Seminary and Catholic University of Lublin.
  He was later elevated to cardinal in June 1967, and elected as Pope 
John Paul II on October 16, 1978. He proved to be one of the most 
energetic and hard-working men ever to occupy the Papal See, visiting 
more than 120 countries, delivering more than 2,000 public addresses, 
and issuing a plethora of encyclicals and apostolic letters.
  Pope John Paul II was the third longest serving pontiff in history, 
serving for 26 years. His passing marks the end of one of the longest 
and most widely respected reigns in papal history.
  A man of the cloth, Pope John Paul II was also a man of the people. 
His teachings, spiritual guidance, and leadership came from his belief 
in peace and justice and the goodness of mankind. It was that belief 
that guided him as he journeyed around the world reaching out to people 
of all faiths.
  He was a world leader and respected statesman who challenged 
communism and advocated democracy, and who always championed the causes 
of the poor and our great responsibility to them.
  Pope John Paul II was a blessing to this world, and though he has 
left us now, his spirit, his love, and his lessons should guide us for 
a lifetime.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, Rome 1993. I knew the City. Except for the 
machine-gun carrying Carbineri at Rome's Fumicino Airport, and the cars 
whizzing by me on the autostrada at 150 kilometers per mile, Rome seem 
strangely familiar. Perhaps it was the ten years studying Latin, 
following the exploits of Caesar, Veni, Vedi, Vici, except Caesar never 
had to drive his chariots in rush hour. Nor did anyone dare crowd his 
style along the Appian Way. Everywhere I looked cars were bumper on 
bumper, I did a sidewalk survey and noticed that about seven of ten 
cars parked along any given street had body damage. Rome was very 
personal like that. My friend Judy and I had come to visit the Eternal 
City to study the cradle of our faith. As we toured, it became clear 
that just as Washington is a monument to Presidents, Rome is a 
celebration of the Papacy.
  Prior to leaving for Rome I had lunch with an old friend, Dr. Robert 
White, the famed neurosurgeon and physician to the Pope. I told him I 
was soon going to be visiting Rome. He made a call to his friend at the 
Jesuit's headquarters in Rome and was able to arrange for a special 
visit to the Vatican, including attendance at a general Papal audience, 
Judy and I, and about five thousand other persons.
  Minutes before we left the hotel for our Vatican tour, I received a 
call that there had been a change of plans. Judy and I were to come 
immediately to a certain entrance off St. Peter's Square. Just in case 
I was going to meet someone I always wanted to meet, I brought with me 
a ceremonial presentation of a Key of the City of Cleveland, although 
they changed the locks when I left the Mayor's office. When we arrived, 
we were greeted by Swiss guards. Then we were ushered into the large 
hall where the general audience was held. It had the air of carnival, 
colorful, noisy, boisterous. Slowly we were escorted past one jammed 
pew after another to the front pew, et introibo ad altare Dei . . .
  A priest in a simple black cassock, a former resident of Milwaukee, 
who followed American politics, approached smilingly, ``Mayor 
Kucinich?'' I accepted the honorific though it had been thirteen years 
since I left Cleveland City Hall, concluding my own personal experience 
with Manichean struggles with the forces of power and light. The years 
after City Hall were, well, different. Except for brief service in City 
Council, filling an unexpired term, I could not win an election to save 
(or lose) my soul.
  ``Yes. We're very excited to be here,'' I said. The priest, now a 
personal assistant to the Pope responded: ``We're really glad you could 
make it.'' Wait a minute. I waited my whole life just to get into close 
proximity to the Pope and one of his assistants is telling me he's 
glad? ``The Holy Father will be here shortly. There will be a general 
audience. Afterwards, people will file out and then he will come over 
to talk with you.''
  That is the moment I knew I was about to meet Pope John Paul II. I 
was lost in thought. Judy feigned panic ``Omigosh,'' she kept saying 
over and over.
  The General Audience is something like Cleveland's West Side Market 
on a Saturday, except many a pilgrims dancing, playing music, and 
singing, while wearing the colorful costumes of their native lands.
  The Pope enters to wild applause. He sits on a simple throne and 
after about an hour and a half his right hand is supporting his head. I 
thought how physically demanding it was for him.
  The General Audience ended. The Pope had brief discussions with a 
group of clergy. He then walked in our direction. He stopped and spoke 
to two other couples. Then he approached.
  He looked at Judy, and greeted her first. He then turned to me. ``Is 
this your wife?'' he asked, in English. She wasn't. Neither of us were 
married. I wasn't going to lie to the Pope. Talk about setting yourself 
up to go to Hell . . .
  ``A friend, Holy Father.''
  He nodded.
  ``Holy Father, I come from Cleveland. . . .''
  ``Yes, we were talking about you earlier, about your public 
service,'' he said.
  ``I remember Cleveland.''
  Indeed the Pope had visited Cleveland, as Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, at 
St. Stanislaus Church in the Slavic Village Neighborhood. One of his 
closest friends was John Cardinal Krol, whose family came from St. 
Stanislaus Parish. There was a great joy in Cleveland when he was 
chosen Pope. The Polish community brought together 10,000 people in 
Public Hall to celebrate in prayer and song. We spoke for a few minutes 
about how the same Polish community was instrumental in my election as 
Mayor in 1977.
  ``Holy Father, I have a special gift I would like to give you, a Key 
to the City of Cleveland. It was one of the last Keys from my 
Administration. I supposed he received a thousand like it, but he 
accepted it and an accompanying certificate graciously as several 
cameras flashed around us. He turned to Judy and he thanked her for 
coming.
  Then my life changed. John Paul II put his hand on my head. He looked 
into my eyes and said in a Polish-accented English I have come to know 
so well in my own neighborhood: ``My son, I give you my special 
blessing.'' I felt something at that moment. Whether it was a 
connection with his charisma or grace, I felt something, a different 
energy field, a buzz, my imagination? A sense of peace? I felt 
something. Later I would mark that bright encounter as one when 
conditions began to change for the better in my own life.
  I thanked him in Polish. He smiled.
  He invited us to visit again. Ever the altar boy, as he was about to 
leave, I offered to him a prayer in Latin: ``Emitte lucem tuam et 
veritatem tuam.'' Send forth your light and your truth. It was said as 
an affirmation of his spiritual leadership, his own quest to bring 
peace to the world.
  He said goodbye. Judy and I were suddenly alone in the pew. The 
Audience had ended.
  There are millions of people the world over who felt a personal 
connection to John Paul II. Yet his passing may become significant not 
for that aspect of him which died in us, but for something within each 
of us that was reborn through his life.
  It was the only time I would ever meet him. I have often thought back 
to that moment when he offered me his blessing.
  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, the world this week suffered an immeasurable 
loss, and millions of men, women, and children in all corners of the 
globe lost their champion and a voice for those who do not have a 
platform to speak for themselves. His Holiness John Paul II, Bishop of 
Rome, head of the Catholic Church, and the spiritual leader of nearly 
one billion people, was a man who made an immeasurable difference in 
the path taken by the world in the last quarter of the Twentieth 
Century and the first part of the Twenty-First Century.
  His quiet strength, determination, and belief in the power of non-
violent opposition were instrumental, along with the efforts of 
President Ronald Reagan and many other leaders around the world, in 
bringing an end to the old communist regimes which had become 
entrenched in the capitals of Europe. He was a man who had developed an 
insurmountable inner strength and faith which, even after the loss of 
his entire family during the early years of his life and the perils he 
faced under the heel of Nazism and communism, was unshakable. His love 
and work on behalf of the Catholic Church and of the people of his 
native Poland--indeed, of men, women, and children of all faiths and 
all walks of life--were the driving force in his rise to become a 
bishop and archbishop in Krakow, Poland, and ultimately his election as 
pontiff.

[[Page H1818]]

  I was never fortunate to meet the Holy Father myself, but I have met 
many individuals who had such an opportunity. In talking with them, and 
in reading the countless reports of people around the world who were in 
his presence, it is clear to see how truly remarkable this man was and 
how moving a meeting with him could be. He was a man of hope, a man of 
vision, and a man of unceasing faith, and in his 26-year papacy those 
qualities were shared with peoples and nations around the world in his 
over 100 trips away from Vatican City.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many times in life where we refer to someone's 
character and manner of living their life as signs that they are a 
saint. Karol Wojtyla was such a person who may indeed receive sainthood 
for his work--a young man from Poland who early on dedicated his life 
to his faith and his church and who grew into Pope John Paul II, a man 
who never lost that dedication and who impacted countless people around 
the world. His life and his work will be discussed and, remembered far 
into the future, and it is my hope his life and his leadership serve as 
an inspiration for all of us for many years to come.
  Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, in my estimation, the Pope was instrumental 
in helping to bring down communism. His words in Poland, ``Don't be 
afraid,'' resonated throughout the world against tyranny, despotism and 
injustice.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life 
of Pope John Paul II, a moral, political, and religious leader who 
helped re-shape the Catholic Church and the entire world.
  The story of a small town boy from Poland, who grew up to become one 
of the longest serving and most influential Popes in history, is an 
inspiration. He survived the destruction of his homeland first by Nazi 
invaders, and then by Communist occupiers, despite his strong 
commitment to a religion those powers despised.
  During World War II, Pope John Paul II was forced to attend an 
underground seminary to further his religious education, and as a 
priest he needed to be constantly mindful of Poland's communist regime. 
Yet, when he was asked if he feared retribution from the government, he 
replied, ``I'm not afraid of them. They are afraid of me.''
  Once he became Pope, however, His Holiness was able to come to the 
aid of others fighting for freedom and human rights. His support for 
the Solidarity movement in Poland and opposition to communists and 
dictators around the globe remade our world. When he became Pope in 
1978, communism had a stranglehold on Eastern Europe and was on the 
march around the globe. As Pope, he encouraged opposition movements and 
gave hope and guidance to millions in their struggle. Thanks in large 
part to his leadership, in 2005, at the close of his papacy, communism 
is confined to the dustbin of history, and it is freedom that is on the 
march.
  Not only did Pope John Paul II lead political change, but he 
encouraged moral change as well. In 1981, when a Turk named Mehmet Ali 
Agca shot the Pope twice in an assassination attempt, the Pope later 
went to the cell of the man who tried to kill him, and personally 
forgave him. By both preaching and practicing forgiveness, Pope John 
Paul II demonstrated the enormous potential of human kindness.
  In a time when many leaders look to the polls and test political 
winds for guidance, Pope John Paul II stood unflinching at the center 
of the most controversial moral debates of our time, and held firm, 
while always supporting the sanctity and dignity of human life. His 
presence will be sorely missed, but his accomplishments will long be 
relished.
  May God bless his soul.
  Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
190, which honors the heroic life and historic pontificate of Pope John 
Paul the Second.
  For over a quarter century, John Paul the Second provided powerful, 
charismatic, and effective leadership for the world's one billion 
Catholics. But his legacy will forever reach far beyond the boundaries 
of faith or nationality.
  In the faithful service of God, he confronted evil and injustice 
wherever he found them, from the Nazism and Communism that gripped his 
beloved Poland to the hunger, suffering, and poverty that continues to 
afflict the world.
  He affirmed life through his teachings and through his example. He 
lived vigorously and inquisitively--and he confronted suffering and 
death with courage and serenity.
  Today, we mourn his passing--while celebrating with thanksgiving the 
powerful and eternal spiritual model he left for us all.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for this 
resolution and my deep regret of the recent passing of Pope John Paul 
II. I also extend my special sympathy to the more than one billion 
Catholics around the world and the more than 66 million Catholics in 
the United States.
  Pope John Paul II was one of the most significant leaders of our 
time. He worked tirelessly to promote the basic freedoms and dignities 
shared by all humanity. He was instrumental in serving as a catalyst 
for the fall of the Soviet Union and the emancipation of millions from 
totalitarian rule. More broadly, he worked in public and in private to 
persuade world leaders to respect their citizens' basic human rights. 
The Pope consistently embraced the poor and the oppressed masses of the 
world, and urged governments to take care of the needs of all its 
citizens.
  One right of particular importance to John Paul II was freedom of 
worship. Ministering to Catholic and non-Catholic alike, the Pope took 
unprecedented steps on behalf of the Catholic Church to promote 
religious freedom for all citizens, regardless of their particular 
religious belief. To that end, he became the first Pope to visit a 
synagogue and a mosque, and made numerous public pronouncements 
committing the Vatican to upholding religious tolerance.
  As ranking member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, I met John Paul II 
during a 2003 trip to the Vatican, and listened to his address to the 
Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation 
in Europe. In that speech he praised the work of the OSCE to encourage 
the recognition of religious freedoms among its member nations. He 
observed that maintaining a secular state while promoting the ability 
of individuals to worship as they choose in private ``corresponds, 
among other things, to the demands of a healthy pluralism and 
contributes to the building up of authentic democracy, to which the 
OSCE is truly committed.''
  The Pope took historic steps to heal divisions between the Catholic 
Church and other Christian faiths. I was pleased that the Vatican 
strongly supported our efforts to host the first-ever OSCE conferences 
on the issue of anti-Semitism. These conferences produced the ``Berlin 
Declaration,'' which unambiguously condemned all forms of anti-Semitism 
and committed the members of the OSCE to collect and maintain 
statistics on anti-Semitic crimes and hate crimes, and to promote 
Holocaust education and remembrance programs.
  In September of 2004 Archbishop of Baltimore Cardinal William H. 
Keeler, who has fought tirelessly to ensure that discrimination and 
racism have no place in the public dialogue, attended the OSCE's 
Conference on Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination in Brussels. I 
hosted a roundtable with Cardinal Keeler and other religious leaders in 
Baltimore in October 2004 to discuss the conference and how we can work 
to prevent racism and xenophobia and promote tolerance. I wish Cardinal 
Keeler well as the cardinals meet in a conclave over the next several 
weeks to elect a new pope.
  Pope John Paul II was an inspiring leader in the battle to stamp out 
religious discrimination and ensure that all individuals have the 
freedom to worship as they desire. Future generations must work to 
promote his legacy, so that we may one day live in a world in which no 
individual is denied their inalienable right to worship as they see 
fit.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, those of us who have 
lived in the era of Pope John Paul II have had the great privilege 
during the past twenty-six years of witnessing the important work of 
this great leader.
  John Paul II was an extraordinary theologian, a brilliant statesman 
who worked ceaselessly for peace and freedom, and a brave Polish 
patriot. He embodied the Christian, Marian doctrine of love and mercy; 
millions throughout the world have been forever changed for the better 
by the life of Pope John Paul II.
  Perhaps his most important accomplishment was lifting the ban on the 
devotion to the message of divine mercy as explained by our Savior 
directly to Sister Faustina, and the Pope's institution of Divine Mercy 
Sunday by the Church, as well as the canonization of Saint Faustina. 
Our prayers of gratitude for those great works of Pope John Paul II 
accompany our prayers for his eternal rest.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, people around the world of all faiths 
share a deep sadness for the passing of His Holiness John Paul II.
  New York City mourns the loss of John Paul II with special 
remembrance and appreciation for the care and attention he showed our 
city, visiting twice as Pope and before that as Cardinal.
  I was personally touched and grateful for the prayers and blessings 
he offered to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 
their families, and all the rescue and recovery workers who responded 
to Ground Zero after the attacks.
  He met personally with several New York firefighters who had 
responded to the attacks, praying for their strength and the health of 
their fellow firefighters, families and fellow New Yorkers in a dark 
and difficult hour.
  This is just one example of how Pope John Paul II was always 
attentive to the needs of those suffering.
  His Holiness John Paul II traveled the world for twenty six years in 
his Papacy, delivering

[[Page H1819]]

a consistent message of the need for peace and the promise of hope.
  Through his faith, his words, and his example in life, Pope John Paul 
II helped democracies to blossom and greater tolerance to flourish 
across the world.
  Crowds of thousands will mourn the passing of Pope John Paul II in 
the days and weeks ahead.
  I hope that in this time of sadness and reflection, we also remember 
the gifts that John Paul II brought into the world, celebrating his 
life and his ministry to the world's greatest troubles and needs.
  We should keep Pope John Paul II's actions for the betterment of 
others always in our mind.
  He fought for the dignified treatment of all people, he stood up for 
the downtrodden, and he worked to unify the world in common missions 
for greater good.
  Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the millions 
of people across the globe paying public, private and prayerful tribute 
to the life of Pope John Paul II.
  The experiences of Karol Wojtyla's youth and priesthood in Poland 
created a unique depth of faith and empathy with the human condition 
perfectly suited for the times in which he led. Through the early death 
of his parents, he understood the fragility of life, empowering him 
with an unshakable devotion to the preciousness of all humanity. His 
young adulthood under Nazi and Soviet occupation gave him an acute 
understanding of oppression, inspiring him to become the most 
significant vessel of peaceful subversion to the forces of communism in 
Eastern Europe and apartheid in South Africa. His intimate exposure to 
the holocaust and enduring friendships with Polish Jews in his 
community allowed him to become a conduit of contrition and fellowship 
between the Catholic Church and the Jewish faith.
  He was one of the most vigorous, charismatic and universally admired 
religious leaders in the history of the modem world. His travels, 
visiting 129 countries during his papacy, delivered the Christian 
message to every comer of the planet. His many trips, particularly to 
the Third World, illustrated his identification with the poor. His 
prolonged health struggle was a powerful example of dignity and 
spiritual deliverance in the face of human suffering. While on his 
deathbed he wrote, ``I am happy, and you should be as well. Let us pray 
together with joy.'' Upon being informed of the masses of young people 
holding vigil outside his window, the Pope, who had worked so 
tirelessly advocating for the young, said: ``I have looked for you. Now 
you have come to me. And I thank you.'' He reportedly looked out the 
window and uttered his last word: ``Amen.''
  The life and times of Pope John Paul II constitute a portrait of 
greatness seemingly without precedent in modernity. Throughout his 26 
years as Pope, one man, Karol Wojtyla of Krakow, spread faith, uplifted 
the poor, challenged political oppression, worked to heal centuries-old 
inter-faith rifts, and inspired billions with his quiet grace. His 
legacy shall endure for the ages.
  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of the 
world's most remarkable leaders of the past century, Pope John Paul II.
  Pope John Paul II was special not only to Catholics, but also to 
those of us outside his religious faith. He was a giant in the 
advancement of peace, spirituality and human dignity. I join the rest 
of the world in grieving his loss and celebrating his life.
  After witnessing two of the greatest evils of the past century 
firsthand, Nazism and Communism, Pope John Paul II made the betterment 
of humanity the centerpiece of his service both to the church and to 
the world. Having emerged from poverty and oppression to become the 
first Polish Pope in history, Pope John Paul II became a beacon of good 
will.
  Pope John Paul II worked to breakdown barriers between countries, 
faiths, and people. Among many other profound and groundbreaking 
gestures, this Pope was the first to visit a German death camp, 
visiting Auschwitz in 1979. There he prayed first at a Hebrew stone and 
second at a Polish stone.
  The Pope understood that different people saw the world through 
different lenses but he fought the biases that long characterized the 
fault lines of differing cultures. He counseled us, ``Peace is not 
built in mutual ignorance but rather in dialogue and encounter. Unity 
is not uniformity.'' Pope John Paul II built a culture of tolerance, 
openness and understanding. ``Solidarity helps us to see the other not 
as an object of exploitation but as a neighbor in the banquet of life 
to which all are equally invited,'' he reminded us.
  Let me close by capturing a deeply held conviction of the Pope's that 
I have long held dear to my own service as a Member of the United 
States Congress. The Pope steadily and forcefully worked towards a 
better future for all of mankind and he saw this future embodied in 
children.
  He remarked, ``We must all work for a world in which no child will be 
deprived of peace and security, of the right to grow up without fear 
and anxiety.'' The greatest challenge for any generation is to leave 
behind a better world for our children. This Pope truly understood and 
embraced this challenge.
  We will miss Pope John Paul II for his spirituality, for his dignity, 
for his leadership and for his profound humanity. But, much as his 
faith indicates that his soul will live on eternally, the impetus and 
legacy of his principled life will live on eternally here on earth.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay 
tribute to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, who embodied the message of 
peace and compassion. John Paul II was a man of God and a missionary of 
faith. He led the Catholic Church through an eventful and revolutionary 
quarter century in the world, inspiring hundreds of millions of people 
in dozens of countries to throw the yoke of dictatorship and 
oppression, His Holiness' motivation and ethical leadership were 
guiding lights in a time that struggled with darkness. His vision will, 
very simply, be missed.
  To be Pope is to not only lead the Catholic Church, but to lead the 
world. Pope John Paul II was an ardent protector of global human 
rights. His stubborn opposition to the world's dictatorships ushered in 
profound movements of change. At the same time, His Holiness also 
deeply believed in the importance of forgiveness, as he demonstrated 
when he forgave his would-be assassin. His courageous efforts to repair 
the long, tumultuous relationship between the Catholic Church and the 
Jewish people opened a meaningful dialogue that will continue for 
decades.
  Mr. Speaker, I will always remember meeting the Pope in 2003, and, in 
fact, I have in the center of my office wall the picture taken of the 
two of us in the Vatican. As I shook his hand, I deeply appreciated and 
admired the fact that His Holiness cared not for the color of my skin 
or my faith. He was a messenger of peace above all. He preached about 
the culture of life, the culture of faith, and the brotherhood of all 
mankind. He led by example and his strength was evident, even in his 
final days.
  I share the Pope's insistence that peace and compassion can overcome 
the influence of evil in the world. The global community must continue 
to take up this message. Action is the only way to apply the teachings 
we acquire in life, and so I call on all individuals to live with 
compassion for your brothers and sisters, just as the Pope did 
throughout his life. He will truly be missed.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Pope John 
Paul II, a true statesman and defender of faith. The Pope's death is 
truly a loss to the world. Many are the people he touched with his 
unconquerable quest for peace and equality.
  Pope John Paul II brought hope to all corners of the world, to people 
of all faiths and backgrounds, with his powerful belief in the human 
spirit. I will always remember the Pope's visit to St. Louis in 1999. 
Having the opportunity to meet him was a special moment in my life, and 
his visit was one of the great moments in our region's history. He will 
be remembered as a tremendous spiritual leader and as a force for good 
in the world, and his legacy will last a long time.
  He was a man who truly reflected justice and the sanctity of life in 
his teachings, travels and way of life. From making landmark trips to 
various parts of the world to strongly upholding the Christian way of 
life, I will always intensely admire his moral courage and integrity.
  For all of humanity, Pope John Paul II has been an inspiration in a 
troubled world. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in support 
of H. Res. 190 and paying respect and recognition to Pope John Paul II.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep sadness at the 
passing of Pope John Paul II and to strongly support H. Res. 190. The 
world has lost a great moral leader his Holiness. Pope John Paul II was 
a man who held profound convictions, displayed enormous compassion, and 
continuously reminded us of our common humanity and obligations to each 
other. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who mourn the passing 
of this remarkable spiritual voice.
  As a young seminarian in 1945, Karol Wojtyla came across a small girl 
who had just been liberated from the Nazi labor camp in Czearochowa, 
Poland. She had boarded a passing coal train and rode it until she 
could no longer stand the cold. That is how she ended up in the train 
station in the small town of Jedrzejows. It was here, sitting alone in 
the corner of the train station in her striped prison uniform, that 
Karol Wojtyla discovered her. She told him that she was trying to get 
to Krakow to find her parents and other family members. He provided her 
with food and shelter, and helped her get back to Krakow. Even as a 
young man, the future John Paul II had the humanity, compassion, and 
courage to help this young girl when others passed her by.

[[Page H1820]]

  When he became Pope in 1978, his Holiness took his convictions and 
moral strength around the world. In more than 200 visits to 126 
countries over the course of his papacy, Pope John Paul II exhibited 
charisma and a set of core beliefs that focused people worldwide on the 
plight of the less fortunate and the forgotten. He inspired faith not 
only in God, but in ourselves. He articulated a message that every 
person matters, and every child of God has a purpose on Earth.
  This philosophy was writ large when it came to world affairs. Just 
eight months after his inauguration, Pope John Paul II returned to his 
native Poland, still under communist rule, and reminded the massive 
crowds--and the authoritarian leaders who oppressed them--of their 
fundamental, God-given human rights. By supporting the Solidarity 
movement within Poland, he helped to break the back of the 
authoritarian communists in Poland and then the rest of Western Europe. 
Pope John Paul II was a catalyst for change at a key moment in history, 
and millions of people live more freely today due to his efforts. He 
always believed in, and never stopped fighting for, a world in which 
people were free from tyranny, poverty, and war.
  On that first visit to Poland in 1979, Pope John Paul II offered a 
prayer: ``Spirit,'' he said ``come and renew the face of the earth.'' 
Let us renew that prayer today. There is still too much suffering in 
this world, too much oppression, poverty and abuses of human rights. 
His Holiness Pope John Paul II would want us to continue doing our 
best, individually, and collectively, to address these challenges. 
There are many lessons he taught to me, so much to draw from his 
remarkable life. Above all, let us remember this: one person can change 
the world. He showed us that as Pope, yes. But he also showed it in 
1945, when he changed the world for Edith Zierer. With faith we can 
renew the face of the earth. With his faith Karol Wojtyla changed 
lives. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we need to remember to 
start today by extending the hand of human kindness to our fellow 
humans, just as that young seminarian did at the end of the Second 
World War a half century ago for Edith Zierer.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, the citizens of EI Paso, Texas join with 
Catholics and people of faith and compassion around the world in 
expressing their profound grief at the death of a great man, Pope John 
Paul II. I am grateful to have the opportunity to join with my 
colleagues today to give thanks for Pope John Paul II's many 
contributions to mankind and to express our deep sorrow at his passing.
  A small-town boy from Poland who became the first non-Italian to 
assume the pontificate in over 400 years, Pope John Paul II expanded 
the Church and welcomed into its faith millions of souls around the 
world. At the same time, he was an unfailing advocate for the poor, 
weak, and vulnerable, a strong voice for global peace, and a great 
champion for the sanctity of life.
  Through his unprecedented travels and many sermons and writings, Pope 
John Paul II awakened in people--from Asia to Africa and from the 
former Soviet Union to Latin America--the innate human desire to shake 
off the yoke of autocracy and social inequity. By the power of his 
faith and charisma, he empowered the oppressed to seek freedom and 
demand human rights. Also, at a time of global turbulence and 
uncertainty, his words and actions provided an essential moral 
deterrent to Communism.
  Mr. Speaker, the world has been truly blessed by the life and legacy 
of Pope John Paul II. I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
important resolution.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, today I join with fellow Catholics around 
the world in mourning the death of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. 
The world has seen the passing of a great man dedicated to peace 
throughout the world. His actions reflected his preaching of love, 
healing and forgiveness, advocating for peace and reaching out to other 
faith traditions. Despite turmoil and controversy, he held fast to his 
beliefs, gaining the respect of many around the world, even those who 
did not agree with him. His teachings will be remembered by millions 
and his influence will guide world leaders for years to come.
  Throughout his ministry, he remained firm in his beliefs, leading by 
word and deed, fearless in his efforts to spread the Gospel of Christ. 
He believed in the inalienable right and dignity of the human person 
from conception through the moment of death. He was unafraid to shape 
world events, speaking passionately for peace and advocating for human 
rights. From his early years during the Nazi occupation of Poland where 
he risked his life to protect Polish Jews from persecution to his 
forgiveness of his would-be assassin, he has led by example, in faith 
and humility.
  His steadfast support of the Solidarity movement in his homeland of 
Poland provided hope and encouragement to the Polish people and led to 
peaceful government reforms that precipitated the collapse of communism 
in Poland and the eventual fall of the Soviet Union, bringing freedom 
to millions of people. As these events were unfolding, Pope John Paul 
II was also reaching out to other parts of the world, using his 
influence to bring about change.
  Through his efforts, he helped reduce tensions between world leaders, 
advocating for peace and justice. He sought to heal divisions across 
the different faith traditions, promoting reconciliation and dialogue 
between members to further understanding and respect for all people.
  Pope John Paul II traveled all over the world. For millions, his 
visits would be the only opportunity to see a pope in person. Despite 
his afflictions of arthritis and Parkinson's disease, the Holy Father 
continued to travel the world, bringing hope and encouragement to the 
millions still oppressed by tyranny, hunger, disease and despair.
  Pope John Paul II was especially dear to the people of Guam. He was 
the only Pope to visit Guam and he mesmerized our people with his 
dignity, kindness and sincerity. From his first words upon his arrival, 
spoken in the native Chamorro language, and throughout his short visit, 
his presence brought a spiritual renewal to the island's Catholics, 
many of whom camped overnight in streets and parking lots near the 
plaza where he was to say Mass. On February 23, 1981, tens of thousands 
of people gathered at the Plaza de Espana in Agana, Guam, to attend the 
service and receive his blessing. The crowd was captivated by this 
gentle man who spoke passionately of his love for God and his love for 
humanity, praising the dedication of Catholics in Guam and Micronesia 
for their faithfulness while reminding them that their faith should be 
practiced in all that they do. He then took time to comfort the elderly 
and the sick in our hospital who were unable to attend his Mass, 
blessing and encouraging them with his words, ``You are the strongest 
among all of us, who build the church through your suffering.''
  It was an awesome sight to see children with their parents and 
grandparents, religious and government leaders, gathered to welcome the 
Holy Father, to celebrate Mass and to bid him farewell as he departed 
our island.
  His visit marked a turning point for Catholics in Micronesia. In 
1984, three years after his visit, the Pontiff honored our island and 
the Chamorro people with the elevation of the Diocese of Agana to a 
Metropolitan Archdiocese, naming the late Bishop Felixberto C. Flores, 
the first Chamorro Bishop, the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana 
and appointing another Chamorro, Father Anthony S. Apuron as Auxiliary 
Bishop. A year later, he approved the creation of the Diocese of Chalan 
Kanoa in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and appointed 
Monsignor Tomas A. Camacho, a Chamorro and a native of Saipan, as its 
first Bishop.
  Also in 1984, the Holy Father announced the beatification of Padre 
Diego Luis de San Vitores, the Jesuit priest who brought Christianity 
to Guam and was later martyred for baptizing the child of a Chamorro 
chief. Over two hundred people from Guam went on the pilgrimage to Rome 
to attend the beatification ceremony.
  Although he would not return to the island before his passing, his 
visit will never be forgotten. From the street named in his honor, 
Chalan Santo Papa Juan Pablo Dos, to the bronze statue erected to 
commemorate his visit, the people of Guam will always remember this man 
of faith and vision who taught us ``not to be content to boast of a 
glorious heritage from the past without turning to the demands of the 
present moment.'' Rather, we must put our faith into practice each and 
every day, seeking more effective ways to proclaim the message of love 
to all those we meet.
  Pope John Paul II was beloved by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. 
Through the many challenges confronting the Catholic faith and the 
world, Pope John Paul II as the Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pastor of 
the Catholic Church was the rock of the Church and the conscience of 
the world. At his passing, we mourn the loss of a great person. For 
Catholics, we take comfort in the knowledge that he is at peace with 
God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in heaven. 
On behalf of the people of Guam, ``Adios Santo Papa yan in guiya hao.''
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of Tuesday, April 5, 2005, the 
resolution is considered read and the previous question is ordered on 
the resolution and on the preamble.
  The question is on the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. HYDE. 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, this 15-

[[Page H1821]]

minute vote on adopting H. Res. 190 will be followed by a 5-minute vote 
on H. Res. 148.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 415, 
nays 0, not voting 19, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 94]

                               YEAS--415

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Allen
     Andrews
     Baca
     Bachus
     Baker
     Baldwin
     Barrett (SC)
     Barrow
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Bass
     Bean
     Beauprez
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boustany
     Boyd
     Bradley (NH)
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown, Corrine
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Butterfield
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carson
     Carter
     Case
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chandler
     Chocola
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Cox
     Cramer
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (KY)
     Davis (TN)
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     Engel
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Farr
     Fattah
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Fitzpatrick (PA)
     Flake
     Foley
     Ford
     Fortenberry
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gerlach
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Granger
     Graves
     Green (WI)
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutknecht
     Hall
     Harman
     Harris
     Hart
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Herseth
     Higgins
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hostettler
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Inglis (SC)
     Inslee
     Israel
     Issa
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     Jindal
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MN)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick (MI)
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kirk
     Kline
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Leach
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Maloney
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy
     McCaul (TX)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McMorris
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Menendez
     Mica
     Michaud
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, Gary
     Miller, George
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy
     Murtha
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Neal (MA)
     Neugebauer
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nunes
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Osborne
     Otter
     Owens
     Oxley
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Payne
     Pearce
     Pelosi
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Poe
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Price (GA)
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Ryan (WI)
     Ryun (KS)
     Sabo
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sanders
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz (PA)
     Schwarz (MI)
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Sherwood
     Shuster
     Simmons
     Simpson
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Sodrel
     Solis
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stearns
     Strickland
     Stupak
     Sullivan
     Sweeney
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry
     Thomas
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Wasserman Schultz
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Young (AK)

                             NOT VOTING--19

     Baird
     Brown (OH)
     Clyburn
     Cubin
     Forbes
     Gutierrez
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Istook
     Kingston
     Lynch
     Millender-McDonald
     Napolitano
     Rangel
     Shimkus
     Souder
     Waters
     Watson
     Young (FL)


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Foley) (during the vote). Members are 
advised that there are 2 minutes remaining in this vote.

                              {time}  1551

  So the resolution was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 94, had I been present, 
I would have voted ``yea.''
  Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 94 I was unavoidably 
detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

                          ____________________