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the revival of Solidarity and the pressure for reform [in
his native Poland]’’;
Whereas Pope John Paul II was acknowledged by Mikhail
Gorbachev to have played an essential role in the libera-
tion of those who lived under European communism when
he stated ‘‘everything that happened in Eastern Europe
. . . would have been impossible without this pope’’;
Whereas Pope John Paul II carried on an active correspond-
ence with world leaders during the 1980’s, involving the
Church in efforts to promote peace by reducing tensions,
and exerting his moral authority to persuade the super-
powers to engage in a ‘‘dialogue’’ that succeeded in re-
ducing conventional and nuclear weapons and helped to
avert a nuclear war;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has used public and private di-
plomacy and the power of moral suasion to encourage
world leaders to respect the inalienable rights of the
human person;
Whereas Pope John Paul II, on May 13, 1981, was shot by
a would-be assassin, and nevertheless provided a remark-
able example of the power of grace, later visiting his
attacker in prison, and stating afterwards ‘‘I spoke to
him as I would speak to a brother whom I have forgiven
and who enjoys my confidence’’;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has ministered to Catholic and
non-Catholic alike, providing a personal example of grace,
endurance, compassion, courage, sacrifice, and foresight;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has sought to heal divisions be-
tween the Catholic Church and other Christian faiths, the
Jewish faith, and Islam, expressing sadness and regret
for the individual acts of present and former Catholics
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who persecuted members of other faiths, and promoting
reconciliation and dialogue through the first-ever Papal
visits to synagogues and mosques, as well as visits to
areas of historic conflict, including Ireland and the Holy
Land;
Whereas Pope John Paul II visited Cuba to speak directly to
the Cuban people and their communist rulers in 1998,
calling for political and religious freedom, the release of
political prisoners, a recognition of the right to express
one’s faith ‘‘in the context of public life’’, and the impor-
tance of fundamental human dignities, including that
‘‘each person enjoying freedom of expression, being free
to undertake initiatives and make proposals within civil
society, and enjoying appropriate freedom of association’’
is a necessity;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has traveled farther than any
other Pope in history, traversing nearly three quarters of
a million miles, visiting more than 125 countries, includ-
ing African nations never before visited by a Pope, being
seen by more people than anyone in human history, and
evangelizing to more than 6,000,000 people in the closing
mass of World Youth Day ’95 in the Philippines;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has changed the course of his-
tory, leading the Catholic Church through a dramatic and
remarkable period, and into Christianity’s third millen-
nium;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has devoted his life to the ame-
lioration of the human cost of terror and oppression
through his dedication to truth, forgiveness, and the de-
velopment of a vibrant public moral culture;
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Whereas Pope John Paul II has articulated the importance
of individual liberty being undergirded by a ‘‘moral
order’’, has embraced the poor and oppressed masses of
the world, and encouraged governments and the faithful
to attend to the needs of those who are less fortunate;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has brought hope and inspiration
to hundreds of millions of people around the world op-
pressed by tyranny, hunger, disease, and despair;
Whereas Pope John Paul II has worked tirelessly to bring
peace to regions of the world that have been driven by
strife, intolerance, hatred, and violence for far too long;
and
Whereas the Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the
highest civilian award of the United States Government:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress urges the President, on
behalf of the United States, to present the Presidential
Medal of Freedom to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II,
in recognition of his significant, enduring, and historic
contributions to the causes of freedom, human dignity,
and peace and to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of His
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Holiness’ inauguration of his ministry as Bishop of Rome
and Supreme Pastor of the Catholic Church.
Passed the House of Representatives November 18,
2003.
Attest:
Clerk.