[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5515]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               FIRST APOSTOLIC VISIT OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I am here in support of House Resolution 838.
  As a Catholic and as a member of the Rialto St. Catherine's Church, I 
humbly welcome His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, on his first apostolic 
visit to the United States. Tomorrow we will have a once-in-a-lifetime 
opportunity to present a special service to His Holiness.
  In faith, his presence will be felt nationwide by Catholics and non-
Catholics. However, His Holiness wants us to focus on Jesus Christ, not 
the person of the Pope. This is his wish since when he was named at the 
highest office of the Catholic Church, to humbly quote His Holiness, 
``I shall come to the United States as pope for the first time to 
proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of 
every language, race, culture and social condition.''
  His Holiness comes with unity and hope for everyone cutting through 
the language barriers. ``Christ is our Hope'' is his message for us.
  I stand here in support of H.R. 838 and humbly welcome His Holiness 
to this country awaiting his message of hope and unity.

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