[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 49 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           POPE BENEDICT XVI

  Mr. SALAZAR. Madam President, I want to take a moment this morning to 
discuss the election of Pope Benedict XVI as the leader of my church 
and the leader of the 1 billion Catholics in our world. I pray for him 
as he assumes this awesome responsibility for our church and for our 
world.
  I have also been comforted by the comments we have heard from Pope 
Benedict XVI. We know we face some difficult challenges in the Catholic 
Church in the days and years ahead. We also know we as Catholics are 
not united on every issue. As I said on this floor after the passing of 
Pope John Paul the Great, we as Catholics are both comforted by our 
church's teachings and challenged by its demands. That will continue to 
be the case. And that is as it should be.
  What is also true is what Pope Benedict XVI said yesterday. He said: 
Catholics ``look serenely at the past and do not fear the future.''
  I was also touched by another thing the Pope said yesterday. In 
relation to John Paul the Great's efforts to reach out to other 
Christian faiths, Pope Benedict XVI said:

       I am fully determined to accept every initiative that seems 
     opportune to promote contact and understanding.

  ``I am fully determined to accept every initiative that seems 
opportune to promote contact and understanding.''
  I am praying for those kinds of efforts. I hope each of us will take 
a moment this Sunday, the very day of the Pope's inaugural mass, to 
pause and reflect on how we can best live up to this challenge from 
Pope Benedict XVI.
  Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________