[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6254-6255]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO POPE JOHN PAUL II

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I wish to comment on the passing of Pope 
John Paul II last week. A number of us had the opportunity to represent 
the United States, represent this body in Rome. It was a moving 
experience, an emotional experience, and one that I briefly want to 
share.
  The passing of Pope John Paul II was moving. It was a historical 
event that riveted the world. Millions of Catholics and non-Catholics 
alike were touched and influenced by this great man. He leaves an 
extraordinary legacy that all of us have reflected upon over the last 
week.
  In his 26-year reign as head of the Catholic Church, the third 
longest pontificate in history, Pope John Paul was seen by more people 
than any other individual in history. He influenced more lives than 
many kings and presidents before him.
  Together with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, Pope John Paul 
helped vanquish the Soviet Union, expose the brutality of communism, 
and free hundreds of millions of people around the world.
  He, indeed, was a hinge of history, one of the great leaders of the 
20th century who helped make our world over on the pillars of faith, 
freedom, liberty, and human dignity.
  As I mentioned, I had the real privilege of leading a delegation of 
14 Senators to pay tribute to this great leader. We left last 
Wednesday. As we soared over the Atlantic, all of us shared our 
thoughts and stories and reflected upon the Pope's remarkable life. Not 
only did he live through the great upheavals of the 20th century, but 
he helped bring about many of its greatest achievements.
  As a young man in war-torn Poland, he lived under those heavy boots 
of fascism and communism, and yet even then he possessed an enduring 
hope and commitment to man's redemption.
  To our great fortune, Karol Woljtyla ascended the world's stage and, 
as the 264th Pope of the Catholic Church, pressed belief into global 
action.
  In the Catholic Church, he grew its religious following from 757 
million faithful when he began his papacy in 1978 to over 1 billion 
today.
  We arrived as a delegation in Rome on Thursday morning. The weather 
was truly glorious that day; one might even say Heaven-sent weather--
clear blue skies, sunshine, a gentle wind.
  After a brief moment to organize, we went to Vatican City. As we 
drove along the roadways, posters lined the city walls with giant 
pictures of John Paul emblazoned with the words ``grazie'' and ``a 
dio.'' As we pulled closer to St. Peter's Square, priests, monks, 
pilgrims, and well-wishers from around the world, many Americans, would 
come up and say hello to us, all crowding those stone streets around 
the Basilica.
  On that first day, our delegation was escorted into St. Peter's to 
view the

[[Page 6255]]

Pope's body. We filed into the crowds as they passed respectfully. Many 
had waited hours and hours, indeed, well over 24 hours on average. They 
passed by bowing, saying prayers, crossing themselves, and waving small 
papal flags. As we came around the corner, we came into view of the 
Holy Father. It was a powerful moment for our entire delegation--the 
viewing. It was the first of many powerful moments over the remainder 
of that day and the next day when the service actually occurred.
  As we passed by the body, you could not help but to pause and run 
through a series of your own prayers of thankfulness, as each and every 
one of us did.
  The next day was the funeral. Again, it was a beautiful day--crisp 
weather, morning sky glistening overhead. The square was full, silent, 
solemn, and respectful. We were privileged to enter the Square and find 
our seats. Our seats were out front, probably 50 or 75 yards, both the 
Senate and House delegations.
  The ceremony was about 2\1/2\ hours. Many people have had the 
opportunity to see it on television, but the presence there, that sense 
of time and place is difficult to describe. You could feel the powerful 
strength of the man for whom we all gathered and prayed. It was 
uplifting, it was serious, and a very dignified celebration in many 
ways.
  As the funeral drew to a close, the adoration for Pope John Paul 
crescendoed to almost an electric pitch. I heard my colleagues who were 
with us describe it to our other colleagues over the course of the last 
48 hours that way off in the distance we began to hear clapping and the 
roar of the crowd as it came forward, a huge wave all the way up to St. 
Peter's and then to the Basilica. It was truly a moving and powerful 
experience.
  The crowd did, at the end, begin to chant and begin to cheer as the 
Pope was held up one last time in that wooden coffin and dipped down to 
the people in St. Peter's. He was then lifted aloft and carried 
solemnly into the Basilica for his final burial.
  In closing, I know I speak for all my colleagues when I say it was a 
tremendous honor for those of us who were able to attend on behalf of 
our fellow Americans and this institution in paying our respects for a 
momentous and truly historic world figure.
  Pope John Paul will be remembered for many things: his intellect, his 
charisma, his warmth, his steadfast belief in the culture of life. 
Above all, he will be remembered for his humble dedication to God and 
his unwavering love for us all, each and every one a child of God.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Georgia is recognized.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
allowed to take up to 20 minutes of the majority time, and I 
respectfully ask the President pro tempore to notify me when I have 2 
minutes remaining.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, having heard the words of the majority 
leader relative to the delegation that was in Rome last week for the 
burial of Pope John Paul II, I think all Americans, as well as every 
other individual around the world, were truly moved by the work of this 
man over the years he served as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
  Having been to Rome a couple of years ago and been in a service that 
Pope John Paul II celebrated, I, too, was very moved by the presence of 
this man. Certainly during his term as Pope he had a tremendous impact 
on the world, and this man is truly going to be missed as a leader, not 
just of the religious world but as the world leader that he was.

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