[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6297-6298]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
                      WELCOMING POPE BENEDICT XVI

  (Mr. GINGREY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGREY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome Pope Benedict XVI 
to our Nation's Capital as part of his official papal visit to the 
United States. During this 6-day trip to Washington, D.C. and New York 
City, the Holy Father, who serves as a wondrous example of faith and 
leadership, will help Catholics and all Christians renew their faith by 
delivering mass to tens of thousands of people.
  I was honored to have the opportunity to attend mass with the Holy 
Father at the new Nationals Stadium here in D.C. this morning. And, 
Madam Speaker, it was truly a blessed event.
  Despite his relatively short tenure, Pope Benedict XVI has emerged as 
a vocal and effective leader for Catholics throughout the world. Over 
the past 3 years, His Holiness has stressed the need for a return to 
fundamental Christian values in response to what many see as the 
world's sloping trend toward secularism.

[[Page 6298]]

  As Pope, he has focused on the importance and sanctity of human life, 
especially the life of the unborn, an issue that's very important to 
me, both as a member of the Catholic Church and as a Member of 
Congress. But every American, regardless of party affiliation or 
religious belief can find hope in his message of freedom and justice 
for all people.
  Madam Speaker, as a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in 
Marietta, Georgia, I humbly welcome Pope Benedict XVI to the United 
States as he continues to spread his message of faith, love and service 
in Christ.

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