HR 9131

1
House Resolution
2A resolution honoring the life and example of Pope John
3Paul II.
4
5     WHEREAS, born of a military father in Wadwice, Poland, on
6May 18, 1920, and orphaned by age 20, Karol Josef Wojtyla was
7ordained a Catholic priest at the age of 26 after having served
8as a professor of moral theology, social ethics, and philosophy,
9reflecting ideals evidenced in his life not only by his
10elevation to the office of Bishop of Kracow and Cardinal but
11also by his active resistance from a young age to Nazi
12occupation, and
13     WHEREAS, Karol Josef Wojtyla, along with some friends, was
14stopped by the Gestapo during the 1940's Nazi occupation of
15Poland and he alone being in possession of a work visa was
16released, while his friends were arrested, deported to
17Auschwitz, and killed, an event that motivated him to join an
18underground seminary and dedicate his life to God, and
19     WHEREAS, on October 16, 1978, Karol Josef Wojtyla, having
20been elected as Supreme Pontiff by the Sacred College of
21Cardinals, chose to be called by the name "John Paul II," and
22     WHEREAS, Pope John Paul's pilgrimage to his native Poland
23in 1979 sparked a revolution against Soviet style
24totalitarianism, empowered by conscience and morality, beginning
25with the Solidarity Labor movement and resulting in similar
26civil uprisings in Eastern Europe; this "soft power" revolution,
27speaking truth to the corruption of totalitarianism, combined
28with President Ronald Reagan's efforts to secure peace through
29strength, forged a partnership for human freedom culminating in
30the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of Soviet
31Communism in 1991; and early in this revolution, in 1981, Pope
32John Paul survived an assassination attempt perpetrated by fear
33of his persuasive moral leadership, and
34     WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II, evangelist and pilgrim of
35peace, the most traveled pope in history, declared evangelism
36the essential mission of the church; globalized the Roman
37Catholic Church and its message by visiting nearly 130 countries
38and territories during his papacy, traveling over 700,000 miles,
39the equivalent of 28 circumnavigations of the globe, including
40seven trips to the United States, but with particular emphasis
41on the developing nations in Africa, Latin America, and Asia;
42addressed over 17 million people directly in his general
43audiences, from the slum dwellers of Rio de Janeiro to AIDS
44sufferers in Uganda and the United States; and whether he was in
45Muslim Morocco, Buddhist Japan, or Catholic Spain, he advanced
46the message that the Gospel is not out of place in any country,
47and
48     WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II, for Roman Catholics the
49successor to St. Peter, Christian theologian, poet, and Second
50Vatican Council participant, authored 5 books, 14 papal
51encyclicals, 15 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic
52constitutions, and 45 apostolic letters instructing mankind on
53issues ranging from capitalism to ecumenism, abortion to
54euthanasia, private property rights to morality, and, most
55significantly, the triumph of life over death, and through these
56writings exhorted mankind to "be not afraid" to live Christ-like
57lives, and
58     WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II, ecumenical leader and religious
59unifier, emphasized that which is common among world religions
60over that which is disputed; was the first Bishop of Rome to
61pray with Roman Jews in their synagogue since St. Peter and the
62first Pope to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem; called anti-
63Semitism a sin against God and was known to have cried at Yad
64Vashem, the Holocaust memorial; was the first Pope since the
65Reformation to visit the Canterbury Cathedral and with the
66Reverend Billy Graham held the great ecumenical rally of 1987,
67bringing together evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox, and
68Anglicans to give common witness to the Gospel; was the first
69Pope to visit a mosque and quote the Qur'an and encouraged
70Christians to fast with Muslims during Ramadan after the horror
71of September 11, 2001; coordinated interfaith condemnations of
72terrorism; and constantly advanced the understanding of the
73Church as a means of communion with all people of God, and
74     WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II, instrumental in the defeat of
75Nazism and Communism, two of the most pernicious and godless
76evils of modern time, was adviser and spiritual example to world
77leaders, holding over 730 audiences with heads of state and
78almost 250 audiences with prime ministers, and was a strong
79force in ending the nuclear arms race, and
80     WHEREAS, Pope John Paul II, Vicar of Christ, mystic, and
81pastor to over 1.1 billion Roman Catholics and a powerful
82exemplar of a consecrated life to people of all faiths
83worldwide, was known as the pope of the people, or "don de
84gente," for his love of all life, especially children and the
85suffering, and for his example of strict morality and gentle
86mercy; who, as an assassination attempt survivor, within three
87days publicly forgave and ministered to his would-be assassin,
88promoting hope and mercy for the condemned; and who, through his
89daily example, epitomized a life guided by I Corinthians 11:1,
90"Imitate me as I imitate Christ," NOW, THEREFORE,
91
92Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
93Florida:
94
95     That Pope John Paul II be remembered for his exemplary life
96of daily courage as a common man who adored his God, who through
97and for Him dedicated his life and soul to the love, compassion,
98mercy, and service of others, and who in so doing changed the
99world forever.
100     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives,
101on behalf of all Floridians, commend his noble soul to the
102merciful love of God our Heavenly Father and invoke upon all who
103mourn his passing the divine blessings of consolation, strength,
104and peace and further commend to all Floridians the
105encouragement of "truth and faith" uttered as the last word by
106Pope John Paul II, "Amen."


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.