Honoring John Paul II

HONORING JOHN PAUL II -- (Senate - April 05, 2005)

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Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, when Pope John Paul II died over the weekend, the Catholic Church lost its spiritual shepherd. The world lost a giant of a man. As successor of St. Peter, he began his papacy by reminding the world to ``Be not afraid.'' The captive people of Eastern Europe and Latin America heard that message loud and clear. And as he prepared for his own death, he met his suffering with a fearlessness and hopefulness that was heard by us all.

For millions of American Catholics, including many Utahns, and many of my colleagues in this body, Pope John Paul II's passing represents the loss of a profound spiritual leader. My prayers are with all of you and with the Pope.

For non-Catholics like myself the Pope's death is a cause for mourning as well. His was an example of strength, commitment, and moral courage that we will all miss and that we will never forget. The Communist tyranny that the Pope ultimately triumphed over once mocked the power of the Catholic Church, asking how many divisions the Pope had. While it is true that the Pope possessed no military might, his witness to hope, his faith that life would triumph over death, that the light would prevail over the darkness, was more powerful than any army.

As a result of his simple faith, this humble man from Krakow, Poland emerged from behind the Iron Curtain, became the first non-Italian Pope in nearly 500 years, and concluded his life as one of the towering figures of the Twentieth Century. I have no doubt that his example will guide us in the Twenty-first Century as well, and I understand why it is that so many Catholics are already referring to him as John Paul the Great.

My career as a public servant began shortly before John Paul II became Pope. I am fortunate to have spent time with him on two occasions over the years, and so it was no surprise to me to watch the world's and this country's admiration and love for him grow. I was struck by his joyful and his charitable spirit. Yet behind that peaceful demeanor was a determination to challenge the totalitarian assaults on human dignity that stained much of the last century.

As a young man he was witness to the Nazi terror in his native Poland, and later as Pope he went to Poland and encouraged the Solidarity movement. He understood that all persons are created in the image and likeness of God and that no matter how small, old or weak, no person is without significance. I have no doubt that his powerful witness to the dignity of all people contributed as much to the downfall of the horror of communism as anything we accomplished in Washington. A year after he assumed the papacy, John Paul II went to Poland and awakened a sleeping giant. Today, I hear that over a million thankful Poles are en route to Rome to pay their respects to their native son.

As the Pope grew older and he lost his youthful vigor, his own suffering served as a powerful reminder of the need to nurture a culture of life. Catholics and non-Catholics alike have heard this call. As President Bush put it the other day, it remains the duty of the strong to protect the weak.

It only took about twenty-four hours before some commentators came out to declare the Pope's legacy a mixed one. The Pope was too strident on certain issues, they say. He left certain groups unsatisfied. Perhaps. But I think that these criticisms really miss what this man was about. John Paul II reminded us of the meaning that our human lives can have. This truth is not something that you can focus group. The truth about the universe, about our duty to God and to our fellow man, is not something that you can triangulate.

Still, some fault the Pope for not being more like a politician. He was not accommodating enough. He should have compromised and found a middle ground. As elected officials, that is our charge. But as the spiritual head of the Catholic Church, the Pope's duty was greater than what we work to accomplish. He was a witness to truth. His message was not always one that people on either side of the aisle wanted to hear, but the call to the faithful is not often an easy one to swallow. The Pope reminded us of the splendor of truth. I think what is revealed in these criticisms of the Pope is the knee-jerk aversion by some to the very idea that there are eternal truths. The Pope should be commended, not criticized, for reminding us of them.

The talking heads have this exactly backward. They think that it was the Pope who was inconsistent because he was not easily labeled as politically liberal or conservative. It never occurs to them that it is we who are conflicted; that our divisions are something to be overcome. The Pope spoke to what Abraham Lincoln called the better angels of our nature. He was not someone seeking political advantage or gain. He sought peace and unity, and nowhere was this more clear than in his historic outreach to non-Catholic Christians, to the Jewish people, and to moderate Muslims.

Our commentators might not get this, but the world's people certainly do. As is clear from the different languages one hears in Rome as people wait to file past the Pope, this was a man who belonged to the world. And the Pope's trips to this country will never be forgotten. People in this country stood in the rain to attend papal masses in Boston and Miami, New Orleans and New York. Youth from around the world came to celebrate with him in Denver. Though this was a man with a universal message, I think that he had a certain American spirit as well. He was a kindred spirit. His faith in the future, and in the inherent dignity of man, made him at home with the American people, and it is appropriate that this nation, which was blessed with his visits on numerous occasions, will be flying its flags at half staff until his interment on Friday.

This weekend the Catholic Church lost its shepherd. For over a quarter of a century, Pope John Paul II watched over his flock. With his death this weekend, I am sure that there are some who feel lost, but they should not forget the Pope's reminder: ``Be not afraid.'' When he reminded his native Poles of this, they changed the course of history. In his passing we should take heed as well. We will miss him, and we will mourn, but we have faith that he is now at peace and at one with his Lord.

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